Many voices warn that the growing power of the radical right risks jeopardizing hard-won gender equality gains. Yet, social rights have often outlasted their original architects, being upheld or even expanded under hostile administrations. In family policy, some radical right parties in Scandinavia have legislated to promote sharing work and care responsibilities across genders. What explains the varying impact of radical right parties on family policy? Why do they accept established rights in some cases but not others?
This paper focuses on feedback effects to explain the varying impact of radical right government participation. I argue that progressive social rights, once implemented, can generate social and institutional inertia, creating spillover effects that influence future partisan governments. Family policies can embed themselves in work-family arrangements, societal aspirations, and employer practices, fostering broad-based social and elite support. This dynamic has led radical right parties in Scandinavia to adopt more progressive stances, aligning with shifting voter preferences and economic demands. In contrast, weak policy foundations in other contexts, along with policies lacking strong or large support constituencies, have enabled these parties to implement radical conservative agendas.
This paper tests this theory through a systematic qualitative comparison of the radical right’s impact on family policy in European governments. It identifies key turning points where these parties adopted more progressive positions, offering insights into the conditions shaping their policy transformations. This article provides an empirical contribution to understanding the radical right in government, with broader relevance for research on policy shifts in party agendas