Tarik Abou-Chadi

Tarik Abou-Chadi is an Assistant Professor of Direct Democracy and Political Participation at the University of Zurich. His research focuses on the decline of social democratic parties and the rise of right-wing populist movements in Western Europe, analyzing voter shifts, policy dilemmas, and the impact of migration and identity politics.

He argues that social democratic losses primarily stem from fragmentation of traditional voter coalitions and the growing importance of progressive issues like gender equality, environmental policy, and migration. His studies across 20+ countries highlight the electoral failure of restrictive migration strategies and the need to engage educated middle-class voters rather than alienate them through conservative identity politics.

Abou-Chadi emphasizes adapting social policy to modern sociostructural changes, advocating for investment-oriented approaches (e.g., childcare, education, social inclusion) over consumption-focused welfare systems. He critiques the dichotomy between workers and marginalized groups, stressing that the working class itself is diverse and intersects with migration, gender, and sexual orientation.