The rise of Europe's far right: Origins and dangers
Traditional right-wing parties have been eclipsed by populist factions that offer seemingly simple solutions to complex problems
Nathalie Lees
The intersection of several global movements and events eerily shares similarities with the turbulent global climate between the two World Wars in the 20th century
The rise of Europe's far right: Origins and dangers
Paris: The entry of a populist and anti-immigrant right-wing faction in the Finnish government in June — just a year before the European elections — is a sign that the rise of populist movements in Northern Europe is falling in line with similar trends on the continent.
This can be seen from Sweden to Italy, where Giorgia Meloni assumed the position of prime minister in October 2022. The recent electoral success of Vox, a Spanish party, further reinforces this trend.
The rise of various forms of far-right parties — including nationalist parties that long for past glories, other nationalist populist factions, and radical conservative parties with fascist roots — is seemingly sweeping across the continent.
With this increase in popularity, it is important to explore the origins of this movement and analyse its possible trajectory and what it could potentially mean for Europe — a continent that is experiencing exceptional upheaval amid global events and challenges.
Historical echoes of fascism intertwine with contemporary challenges
The rise of far-right extremism and its clinching of power and influential positions in several European countries can be attributed to a complex intersection of factors.
Historical echoes of fascism, Nazism, and similar ideologies from the previous century are seemingly intertwining with contemporary challenges such as social and economic turmoil, the reverberations of mass migration, inclinations toward racial seclusion, populism, Islamophobia, and the unfortunate conflation of Islam with terrorism.
Historical echoes of fascism from the previous century are seemingly intertwining with contemporary challenges such as social and economic turmoil, the reverberations of mass migration and inclinations toward racial seclusion.
Additionally, a cultural dimension has emerged, characterised by an aversion to the unfamiliar and a reluctance to acknowledge religious and cultural pluralism.
Far-right demonstrators in Hungary on July 7 declare their support for the French government's measures to suppress the demonstrations that followed the killing of a young man by police shooting.
Also thrown into this matrix are the economic and strategic reverberations stemming from the conflict in Ukraine, casting a significant strain on Europe.
Many voters are disenchanted with the establishment, which also is a key driver of this far-right trend. This political apathy is not unique to Europe but, in fact, is a phenomenon that is unfolding worldwide.
This disenchantment has been spurred by a global economic recession which was exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and further compounded by the economic ramifications of the Ukraine war and the cost of living crisis.
Against this backdrop, traditional right-wing parties have been eclipsed by populist factions that offer seemingly simple solutions to complex problems. These groups prey on public fears by exaggerating external threats and promising to safeguard national identity and autonomy.
These unsettling developments raise important questions such as: What is driving this shift in public sentiment? Are large numbers of European voters genuinely gravitating toward far-right extremism? Or is this electoral behaviour mainly a form of protest?
Does it signify the polarisation between liberal urban voters and their conservative counterparts? Moreover, how do we classify a political party as a far-right extremist entity?
The breaking of long-held taboos
While some of these grievances can be justified, it's important to note that long-held taboos stemming from Europe's destructive battles against Nazism and fascism during the 20th century seem to be disappearing.
These taboos were rooted in the electorate's historical reluctance to give their votes to the far-right again, in order to prevent their rise to power and as a safeguard against potential conflicts and the shadows of history's darker moments.
Traditional right-wing parties have been eclipsed by populist factions that offer seemingly simple solutions to complex problems.
Another shift is that, where in the past, major political parties have been hesitant to work closely with far-right extremist factions, this reluctance has also dissipated.
A perfect example of this huge shift is seen in how the media covered the ascension of Austria's far-right populist Freedom Party into the government coalition in 2000. The news grabbed global headlines and triggered a backlash so severe that the European Union was compelled to impose diplomatic sanctions on Vienna.
In stark contrast, there was little backlash or reaction to similar populist party ascensions to power in the past two years. This signals growing public acceptance of the presence and rise of far-right political groups and less resistance to their assumption of decision-making roles.
In general, the far-right movement across Europe has been normalised.
In the past, major political parties have been hesitant to work closely with far-right extremist factions, but this reluctance has also dissipated. In general, the far-right movement across Europe has been normalised.
Worrisome consequences
The possibility of right-wing extremism gaining traction is particularly worrisome in this context — whether through coexistence, adaptation, or collaboration between established political parties and extremist entities.
The potential scenario — along with the rise of far-right ideologies and practices within mainstream right-wing political structures — poses a substantial challenge. The consequences of such a development have the potential to reverberate through the upcoming European elections and affect the intricate balance of power within the European Parliament.
These ongoing political shifts ahead of next year's European elections should raise alarm bells across the continent. It is essential that politicians and the electorate take stock of the situation and have a long hard think about how these trends could shape the future political landscape of the European Parliament.
The prevailing majority, composed of Democratic Christians in the European People's Party, Social Democrats, and Liberals, faces potential setbacks due to the upsurge of extremism.
There is a real fear over the convergence between the European People's Party, representing the traditional right, and conservative factions, including extremist elements, on specific agendas such as the Green Deal, designed to facilitate the transition toward renewable energy.
Although the European Parliament holds an advisory and symbolic function, the rise of far-right influences in the upcoming June 2024 European elections could exert considerable pressure on the European Union.
It is imperative that far-right trends do not derail the union's focus from the monumental responsibilities it has toward effectively addressing geopolitical concerns, such as the Ukrainian conflict, global disputes, the advancement of a sustainable economy, and the digital revolution.
A Ukrainian serviceman of the 3rd Assault Brigade fires a 122mm mortar towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, July 2, 2023.
At the national level, diligent monitoring of the gradual transformations resulting from the far-right's emergence from the political fringes and its integration into governing coalitions alongside mainstream right-wing parties is imperative.
It is essential that politicians and the electorate take stock of the situation and have a long hard think about how these trends could shape the future political landscape of the European Parliament.
A noticeable rise in xenophobia
It is worth noting that populist right-wing parties in several European countries have exploited the recent social unrest in France to promote their claim that Europe's multicultural model does not work which has led to a surge in xenophobia.
For instance, the Alternative for Germany party has played on these fears claiming that Germany could soon see the eruption of similar social unrest in its cities because of similar challenges. The discourse propagated by European populist right-wing factions has mounted criticisms against policies advocating cultural diversity and the perceived futile attempts at migrant integration.
Beyond Italy, Sweden, and Finland, the far right has the potential to achieve similar political breakthroughs in Spain and, potentially, in Germany and France. It is already firmly established in Hungary and Poland — both of which the European Union often accuses of violating the principles of the rule of law.
The intersection of several global movements and events eerily shares similarities with the turbulent global climate between the two World Wars in the 20th century.
Today, as Europe grapples with the Ukraine war, the rise of populist movements and a host of other political and economic challenges, many are worried about the possibility of history repeating itself as conflict returns to the heart of the European continent.
