What Are the Key Parties and Issues in the Integration-Demarcation Cleavage?

Recent literature has demonstrated the emergence of a transnational cleavage, driven by globalisation. This literature often makes two assumptions about parties: the cleavage’s core issues are transnational governance, free trade, and immigration; and green (/new left/GAL) and radical right parties are emblematic of either pole. We examine whether these assumptions go together: do West European green (/new left/GAL) and radical right parties bundle positions on EU integration, immigration, and trade, as expected? Our results support the literature’s view of the radical right as core to this cleavage, as they adopt the expected positions on all issues. However, green, new left, and GAL parties do not bundle issues as expected, mainly due to their positions on protectionism. Since both assumptions do not hold simultaneously, the role of green (/new left/GAL) parties and protectionism as emblematic parts of the transnational cleavage at the party level should be reconsidered.