CA23102 - Linking euroscepticism and populism: causes and consequences (EUPopLink)

Populism and euroscepticism are frequently studied together as the two phenomena often appear inextricably intertwined in contemporary European politics. The main objective of the proposed COST Action entitled Linking Euroscepticism and Populism: Causes and Consequences (EUPopLink) is to increase the scholarly competence by analyzing the linkage between Euroscepticism and populism in a comparative, innovative (conceptually, methodologically, and empirically) and longitudinal perspective. The empirical analysis will be based on the collection of additional fresh data, but also on a comprehensive re-examination of existing data. This will be accomplished through four Working Groups, namely WG1 on Conceptualising populism and Euroscepticism, WG2 on Data collection, WG3 on Studying the linkage between populism and Euroscepticism and finally, WG4 on Outreach and Dissemination. Young scholars will be involved in different deliverables, while a plan for training opportunities, short-term scientific missions, COST Inclusiveness Target Countries conference grants is foreseen. Special attention is given to a mutual collaboration with stakeholders, policy makers and the civil society. The broader aim of EUPopLink is to produce cutting edge research on the interplay between populism and Euroscepticism, to identify its causes and the consequences both for each national political arena of the EU member-states and the supranational one and to provide policy briefs on ways to mitigate their negative impact in times of multiple crises (the Eurozone crisis, the pandemic, the immigration and refugee crises, the war in Ukraine and more recently the Israel-Gaza conflict).