Are Estonians the true Finns? Homeland and residence country perspectives on support for the populist radical right

Abstract

This article tackles the puzzle of why immigrant voters would support a populist radical right party (PRRP). Exploring the case of Estonian residents in Finland, it draws on 13 in-depth interviews conducted with Estonians who voted for the Finns Party in the 2021 Finnish local elections, and survey data. The article produces a conceptual model explaining how both homeland politics and integration to residence country contribute to PRRP support. Estonians' support for the Finns Party partly results from a political realignment in Estonia and the Estonian PRRP's campaign activities. The influence of homeland politics is also furthered by their lack of political integration in the residence country, and their experience of immigrant integration, which prompts them to identify as ‘the good immigrant’ as opposed to groups they consider less integrated and thus position as inferior to themselves.