^aVakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen, Faculteit ESP (M210), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium. E-mail: hilde.coffe@vub.ac.be

Abstract

While the Vlaams Blok has become electorally one of the most successful extreme right-wing parties in Western Europe, the Francophone Front National does not seem to be able to establish a solid basis for support. This study provides an analysis of the possible reasons for the difference in the electoral results of the extreme right in Flanders and Wallonia in terms of individual sociological factors. The study takes individual-level social background characteristics and attitudes into account. Its findings show that the regional difference in electoral results cannot be explained by differences in voters' social background or by voters' attitudes. The hypothesis that after these individual elements have been controlled for the regional differences in extreme right-wing voting would be reduced, has to be rejected. Considering that in the Walloon provinces citizens are less involved in social and religious organizations and have, among other things, more negative attitudes towards immigrants, the regional difference in extreme right-wing voting becomes even greater after individual variables have been controlled for. The explanation for the difference therefore has to lie in other political, cultural and historical factors.