Understanding the Rise of Right-Wing Ideology Among Dutch Students: The Influence of Contemporary Social Challenges on Political Attitudes

Abstract

This thesis looks at which contemporary social challenges play a role in right-wing voting of Dutch university and hbo students, and how these challenges shape their political beliefs. The findings were based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight Dutch students who voted for a right-wing party in the most recent national elections. The interviews were coded using NVivo 15 and analysed through the Social Identity Theory and Political Socialisation Theory. The main voting motives for participants were the housing crisis, migration, dissatisfaction with the political status quo, and the political climate in higher education institutions. These challenges were frequently interpreted through a more symbolic lens, focusing on ideas about fairness, deservingness, and belonging. Feeling alienated in higher education institutions did not influence political beliefs, but rather reinforced pre-existing beliefs. Unemployment and job insecurity were not a voting motive, possibly because students have better future prospects on the labour market and thus feel more economically secure. Overall, the study highlights how important identity and socialisation are in shaping ideological beliefs of students. Understanding how symbolic and moral concerns about certain contemporary challenges influences identification with right-wing parties can help to promote open dialogue in higher education and reduce polarisation in broader society.