Migrating Extremists

A-Tier
Journal: Economic Journal
Year: 2020
Volume: 130
Issue: 628
Pages: 1135-1172

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We show that migrating extremists can shape political equilibria in the long run. Regions in Austria that witnessed an influx of Nazis fleeing the Soviets after WWII still have significantly higher far-right vote shares today. Institutions and family ties perpetuate persistence. Migrated Nazi elites founded and penetrated local party branches that cultivate and preserve far-right ideologies, even when outside conditions temporarily change. Phonebook entries from 1942 allow tracing current far-right party membership back to past migration. Our results suggest that controlling migrating extremists is crucial to contain the spread of radical movements.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:econjl:v:130:y:2020:i:628:p:1135-1172.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26