Introduction: 'The Rise of the Far Right in Spain and Portugal': A new chapter in Iberian politics?

This introductory article to the Special Issue on ‘The Rise of the Far Right in Spain and Portugal’, explores the far right’s ascent in the two countries within a broader European and global context, where nationalist and populist movements have gained significant momentum. It provides a brief overview of far-right politics in both countries and traces the legacy of authoritarian regimes under Franco in Spain and Salazar in Portugal. It examines the contemporary resurgence of far-right parties, such as Vox and Se Acabó la Fiesta (SALF) (‘The party is over’) in Spain and Chega in Portugal. The analysis explores the sociopolitical factors driving this phenomenon, including economic anxiety, national identity concerns, and reactions against globalization and immigration, and compares the factors driving the emergence of these parties in the two countries. The article introduces the chapters and interviews that follow. The introduction concludes by considering the implications of this far-right ascendancy for the future of democracy and political stability in the Iberian peninsula and beyond.