ABSTRACT
Why are right-wing populist parties more successful in some countries than in others? This introductory chapter presents the research question that lies at the heart of this book and generates a working definition of right-wing populist parties. This chapter situates this book within the field by identifying gaps in the academic literature. It then sums up the main argument put forward in this book, namely that in order to fully understand the electoral trajectories of populist radical right parties, we need to consider contextual factors, notably the strategic choices of mainstream parties and the role of the media. Finally, this chapter provides a rationale for the case selection and introduces the reader to the Benelux region. It ends by providing an outline for the remainder of this book.
