Business Associations and Right-Wing Populism

Résumé du livre

Right-wing populists present a difficult challenge for business associations. This chapter discusses business association responses to the populist right, beginning with the rationales for support and opposition. The interests of business associations and right-wing populists overlap in certain ways. However, right-wing populists threaten the interests of trade-dependent firms and weaken or undermine the lobbying strategies upon which business associations have long relied. Because some of their policy positions are attractive to business while others are problematic, right-wing populists can lead to growing divisions and disunity in business associations. The chapter provides case studies of business association responses to right-wing populism in Germany, France, and Switzerland. German business associations have been loud and outspoken critics of the AfD. The Swiss People's Party is a formidable force in Swiss politics, yet Swiss business associations have found a campaign strategy to win trade, EU, and immigration-related referenda in the Brexit-Trump era. French business associations are struggling to find an effective mode of engagement with the National Rally and its small-business supporters. While there is considerable variation across and within cases, business associations have a tense and difficult relationship with right-wing populists.