Roxani Roushas

In this latest IMI Working Paper, MSc in Migration Studies graduate Roxani Roushas examines the recent political breakthrough of extreme right group the Golden Dawn in Greece. Understanding the political success of the Golden Dawn in Greece In the Greek national election held in June 2012, the right-wing extremist party known as Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) gained 6.92 per cent of the vote, and entered the Hellenic Parliament for the first time with 18 seats. An opinion poll in May 2013 showed support for Golden Dawn has continued to increase to 11.5 per cent, marking a remarkable political success. In this paper, author Roxani Roushas aims to develop an explanation of the electoral breakthrough of what is one of the most racist and extreme right institutionalised elements in Europe. Roxhani presents four factors she argues are crucial to understanding Golden Dawn’s success – unemployment, immigration, conceptions of citizenship, and the political space.