University of Twente Student Theses
As of Friday, 8 August 2025, the current Student Theses repository is no longer available for thesis uploads. A new Student Theses repository will be available starting Friday, 15 August 2025.
The relation between crises and the rise of populism : a study about the housing crisis in the Netherlands
Salm, M. van der (2025) The relation between crises and the rise of populism : a study about the housing crisis in the Netherlands.
|
PDF
892kB |
| Abstract: | This thesis examines the extent to which the Dutch housing crisis has contributed to a rise in populist tendencies among starters (young adults aged 18- to 34). While populist voting is often attributed to cultural backlash among older generations, this study finds that economic exclusion has been the catalysator for populism among starters. Combining textual analysis with electoral and demographic data, this study applies a mixed-methods approach within a single-country case study design. The findings indicate that starters are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis due to lower incomes and limited access to property ownership. Although populist parties commonly frame the crisis as a consequence of mass immigration, starters remain the most accepting towards migrants. Nevertheless, a higher increase in populist voting was observed among starters compared to older generations. These results challenge the cultural backlash thesis and suggest that economic stress – rather than cultural backlash – is a stronger motivator of populist sentiment among Dutch starters. This thesis concludes that the housing crisis functions as a catalyst for political disaffection, supporting Rodrik’s (2018) theory of economic backlash. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 88 social and public administration |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107558 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page