https://theloop.ecpr.eu/we-cannot-ignore-the-populist-radical-right-impact-on-the-welfare-state/ ECPR's Political Science Blog Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:19:36 +0000 hourly 1 https://theloop.ecpr.eu/we-cannot-ignore-the-populist-radical-right-impact-on-the-welfare-state/#comment-57753 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:19:36 +0000 https://theloop.ecpr.eu/?p=10827#comment-57753 An interesting and thought-provoking article.
Across many states, a common rhetorical thread can be clearly inferred from current political ideologies: “Country, First”. This has led to a paradigm shift in which utmost priority is given to natives and citizens. As the article notes, this is no longer confined to populist radical-right parties, as mainstream parties on both the left and the right are adopting the idea that nationals should take priority in welfare distribution. Consequently, there is less welfare protection for those framed as “undeserving”, namely immigrants and nationals seen as not contributing enough, such as the long-term unemployed. This has also informed major policy changes in welfare distribution.
Though the times may demand such adjustments, careful consideration is needed to determine who rightfully falls within the “deserving” and “undeserving” categories when accessing welfare, among both natives and non-natives.
This is where individual contribution towards nation-building could serve as a yardstick for developing metrics to determine the distribution of welfare to a person or their family. An objective and holistic barometer, which cuts across various facets, should be created and institutionalised using the enabling technologies of the current digital revolution. With this, states can fairly determine the benefits that natives, citizens, and immigrants (temporary and permanent) can access, based on objective metrics and criteria anchored on national development.

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