The spanish case and its implications for far right studies: Antecedents and new research strategies

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute to the theoretical frame about far right, which is focused on the conditions that affect its electoral performance. Spain case is especially suitable to investigate the performance of this family of parties because far right has been irrelevant since the end of Francoist dictatorship to 2018, when an electoral breakthrough was led by Vox. First, hegemonic explanations about the Spanish case —defined as the exceptionalism paradigm— will be analysed using a critical glass. Through empirical substantiation, new research strategies will be proposed to study far right in Spain (also of interest to conduct comparative research). These alternative strategies have two main implications. On one hand, the research agenda should give more importance to supply-side theories. On the other, it is necessary to situate far right parties at the centre of explanations.