Political opportunity structures and right‐wing extremist party success

West European right‐wing extremist parties have received a great deal of attention over the past two decades due to their electoral success. What has received less coverage, however, is the fact that these parties have not enjoyed a consistent level of electoral support across Western Europe during this period. This article puts forward an explanation of the variation in the right‐wing extremist party vote across Western Europe that incorporates a wider range of factors than have been considered previously. It begins by examining the impact of socio‐demographic variables on the right‐wing extremist party vote. Then, it turns its attention to a whole host of structural factors that may potentially affect the…