Why do security forces vote for far-right parties in Europe?

There is growing concern over the electoral support for far-right parties among security forces, particularly police and military personnel, given their role in upholding the state’s monopoly on violence. This affinity is seen as especially dangerous due to the potential for ideological alignment with far-right principles to influence law enforcement. Existing explanations often emphasize authoritarian values and a preference for law-and-order policies as drivers of far-right support. Using data from the European Social Survey and the Comparative Manifesto Project, our analysis tests a range of potential explanations for far-right voting, including law-and-order preferences and immigration attitudes. We find that, for both security forces and the general population, attitudes towards immigration are the most consistent and robust predictor of far-right voting.