Political Entrepreneurs

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Challenger parties are reshaping European democracies, with examples like Podemos in Spain and the National Rally in France leading the charge. These parties act as political entrepreneurs, introducing new policies and challenging established party dominance. As mainstream parties struggle to maintain power amid a volatile electorate, De Vries and Hobolt investigate the success of these challenger parties and how traditional parties can respond. They draw parallels between political and business competition, emphasizing that political change hinges on the innovation of challenger parties as well as the failure of established ones to adapt. Challenger parties innovate by addressing new issues—such as immigration, environmental concerns, and Euroscepticism—and by using antiestablishment rhetoric to weaken mainstream appeal. Lacking the constraints of government experience, they are more agile in responding to voter discontent. The authors analyze the dynamics of dominance versus innovation, explaining the long-standing stability of European party systems and the current strains they face. As challenger parties continue to disrupt the political landscape, their rise significantly impacts government stability and the nature of democratic politics.