According to the recent study on global prosperity, Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico are the countries where people are most optimistic. In fact, the top positions are generally occupied by countries in the Global South. In Spain, the level of optimism is higher than the European average, with Japan and the United Kingdom at the bottom of the ranking, places where the future is viewed with less hope. The research tells us that nearly a quarter of the optimism or pessimism we feel is inherited; the rest is contextual, and much of it is disconnected from the current economic situation. This is something, if I may, important to keep in mind when some are considering whether it's worth being pessimistic or optimistic in the final stretch of Barça's season.
Vox, to the right of the European far right
The various populist forces only agree on restricting immigration.
BarcelonaWhether by rivals or supporters, it's not surprising that the label "far right" is often applied to specific political actors. This label sometimes refers to a widespread idea: that the European far-right family is a homogeneous, seamless body, and that any differences that may exist between its members are more a matter of accents than language. Indeed, radical right-wing populist parties, the name often used in academic circles to refer to these parties, often share certain specific characteristics, but they also have important points that differentiate them.
We've seen this recently in our context, where Vox, The Party Is Over, and the Catalan Alliance share some principles but also have divergent priorities and even points of friction. One of the challenges in understanding the coherence of these parties is their rapid growth, underpinned by their ability to attract diverse voters and leaders. Thus, across European countries, if we look at data from the last decade, radical right-wing populist parties have obtained the support of 15% of voters. And the trend continues to rise. If we look at the elections held in Europe in 2024 and 2025, the radical right-wing populist parties have become the most voted-for political party for the first time, with 24% of the vote. This milestone is a feat considering that the conservative and social democratic families have dominated everywhere since World War II, and that there are more traditional political parties (such as the Greens or parties to the left of the social democrats) that have been struggling to grow for years.
"Far-right" parties
As the radical populist right has gained popularity, differences have begun to emerge. Perhaps where the conflict has been most visible is in the tensions expressed between Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister and leader of Brothers of Italy, and Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister, on issues such as European Union aid to Ukraine. In fact, despite sharing significant ideologies and having formalized agreements on certain issues, the two are part of different parliamentary groups in the European Parliament. The European radical right has strived to forge a unified agenda—for example, with the creation of the Europarty, Patriotes for Europe, but not everyone has ended up joining. The other point of friction that tends to be important is whether they are in the opposition or in government. Occasionally, but not always (see, for example, Donald Trump), these parties make some centrist concessions when they come to power, a move that pits them against other parties in the same ideological family.
Beyond the strategic component, radical right-wing populist parties also vary in ideology. According to recent data published by Chapel Hill, one point generates considerable consensus: restrictive immigration policies. In contrast, there is significant diversity in many of the other debates. For example, in terms of right and left, some parties are (relatively) more centrist, such as the Bulgarian party Such a People Exists or the Denmark Democrats. Others, such as the Portuguese party Chega and the British party Reform UK, are clearly positioned on the far right. In fact, according to these data, the party ideologically furthest to the right of the far right is the Spanish party Vox.
The diversity of the far-right family is also reflected in at least two other patterns. First, some formations are seen as monolithic, while others, such as Alternative for Germany and Estonia's EKRE, are perceived as internally diverse on some issues, such as what to do about abortion, same-sex marriage, and other issues related to values. These divisions often lead to splits and the subsequent creation of alternative parties or formations.
Second, apart from the question of values, a significant part of the internal ideological division lies in the priority and position given to more classic economic issues. Thus, some radical right-wing populist formations clearly adhere to the neoliberal paradigm, prioritizing deregulation, tax cuts, and a smaller government. On the other hand, there are others that are only slightly to the right of the Christian Democratic parties and emphasize the need to strengthen certain social programs (although for natives, not for the immigrant population).
Despite receiving almost a quarter of the vote across Europe and influencing the discourse and policies that have been made, the radical populist right has so far had a presence in very few European governments, whether due to the cordons sanitaires or for other reasons. To achieve this, many of its members strive to show unity, to be a "family," with the idea that unity can propel them even further. But forcing unity in diversity can also lead to another result: division and splintering. In the coming years, we will see which scenario prevails.
