📢 New Publication: The Politics of Fear and the Health of Nations - Right‑Wing Populism, Anxiety, and Global Well‑Being

Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI) is pleased to share a new paper by Serhat Calimli (Researcher) and Laura Coburn (Editor), exploring an often overlooked dimension of contemporary politics: the emotional and psychosocial impacts of right‑wing populist narratives.

Across Europe and beyond, right‑wing populist movements have moved from the margins to the mainstream. Their messaging frequently centers on crisis, cultural threat, and societal decline, which resonate deeply in moments of rapid social change.

This paper examines how right‑wing populist narratives activate patterns of existential anxiety and ontological insecurity. It also outlines how these emotional dynamics can influence perceptions of identity, belonging, and safety, with implications for mental well‑being, social cohesion, and broader global health outcomes.

As public health research increasingly recognizes the influence of social and political environments, understanding the emotional dimensions of political life becomes essential.

Read the full paper here: