Populism

Nearly six-in-ten Italians (57%) have a favorable opinion of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while 41% have a negative one.

Elections in Italy and Sweden have underscored the growing electoral strength that populist parties have displayed in Europe in recent years.

Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.

Those on the political right are more likely to say there should have been fewer public activity restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The pandemic has had a divisive effect on a sense of national unity in many of the countries surveyed: A median of 46% feel more national unity now than before the coronavirus outbreak, while 48% think divisions have grown.

A look at how supporters of European populist parties stand out on key issues, from the European Union to Putin.

Republicans who did not agree with the tea party during Obama era were somewhat less likely to remain affiliated with GOP years later. Republicans who had positive views of the tea party movement in 2014 or 2015 were among Trump’s most enthusiastic backers during the 2016 campaign.

Explore our new interactive feature to learn more about what traditional and populist party support looks like in Western Europe.

People in Western Europe differ in their attitudes about major political parties and on key policy issues based on their ideology and whether their views are more populist or mainstream.