Who Breaks the Stigma? Social Stratification and the Normalization of the Radical Right

Radical-right parties are often seen as vehicles for the “left behind.” But were these also the first to support such parties when they were stigmatized? I argue that early support is socially stratified because it is norm-breaking. Individuals with higher incomes are more likely to do so when stigma is strong. I test this idea using the case of Vox in Spain, which entered parliament in April 2019 and gained further ground in a second national election six months later. During this period, initial support came disproportionately from higher-income voters. Lower-income individuals were more likely to withhold support in socially exposed interviews, and early voting patterns are consistent with the idea that expressive inhibition may have constrained their support. As the party gained legitimacy, these gaps narrowed. Complementary evidence from Greece’s Golden Dawn shows a similar pattern. Political normalization may thus unfold through a stratified process, beginning with the socially advantaged.