The Power of Populism: Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands

Description

Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 List of illustrations......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 14 A Catholic childhood 1963–1980......Page 16 Formative experiences 1980–1990......Page 18 In Dutch politics 1990–2000......Page 21 A tale of two murders......Page 26 Wilders’ watershed years 2001–2004......Page 30 The Wilders Group 2004–2006......Page 34 The electoral breakthrough 2006......Page 38 First pillar: the struggle against Eurabia. The PVV’s anti-Islamic alarmism......Page 44 Second pillar: the common man, aka Henk and Ingrid. The PVV’s populism......Page 51 Third pillar: loyalty to the home country. On the PVV’s nationalism......Page 55 Fourth pillar: for the safety of the country. The argument for more law and order......Page 63 A closer examination of the ideology......Page 65 National populism as strategy or ideology?......Page 71 Representatives of the people: the PVV in the House of Representatives......Page 77 At the centre of power......Page 85 In search of allies in Europe......Page 91 The flying Dutchman......Page 94 Parliamentarian, whistle-blower and media strategist......Page 98 4 A unique party: the PVV as a party organisation......Page 102 The memberless party: making a virtue of necessity......Page 103 Behind the scenes......Page 105 The PVV staff......Page 111 A poverty-stricken party? PVV finances......Page 116 The party model of the future?......Page 120 Elections and polls......Page 125 From left and right: PVV voters’ parties of origin......Page 127 On the periphery and in the major cities: where PVV voters live......Page 128 Socio-cultural characteristics: non-religious, a ‘troubled past’, low level of education......Page 131 Why PVV voters vote PVV......Page 133 Driven by fear and resentment? Henk and Ingrid’s rationality or lack thereof......Page 141 Signal received? The established parties and the PVV......Page 144 A marriage crisis and the longing for a new cocoon......Page 146 Conclusion......Page 154 Appendix......Page 158 Bibliography......Page 162 Index......Page 174