Europe is experiencing a notable surge of far-right influence, with indicators suggesting a shift towards hard-right ideologies in several key nations. From the growing support for Germany’s AfD to Spain’s Vox party becoming a pivotal player in an upcoming snap election, the far-right’s ascent is palpable. Notably, far-right parties are not merely fringe entities but are actively participating in or supporting governments in Italy, Poland, Finland, and Sweden.
While various analyses attribute this rise to factors such as opposition to multiculturalism, cultural clashes, or the escalating cost of living crisis, the underlying cause appears to be the persistent failure of European leaders to address the collective demand for protection and control amid perceived threats, both real and imagined.
In an era marked by a climate emergency and global conflicts, the necessity for political unity in Europe is glaring. The current model of small and relatively powerless nation-states proves inadequate in providing citizens with a sense of security amid planetary challenges and emerging superpowers. Despite these challenges, European elites seem hesitant to embrace the crucial steps toward political union.
Europeans now find themselves becoming objects rather than subjects of history, grappling with urgent issues like the need for a green transition, substantial investments for the less privileged, and effective, humane migration management in the face of climate crises and conflicts. While some leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron, have advocated for a united Europe, such calls have been met with indifference or contempt from peers, hindering progress.
In the absence of a cohesive response from mainstream European parties, the far right has seized the opportunity, offering an overt, aggressive form of ethnic nationalism as a refuge for those overwhelmed by the complexities of the modern era.
The pressing question is not whether the far right can attain political power in Europe, but rather, what they intend to do with it. Past experiences with far-right politicians, like Italy’s Matteo Salvini, suggest a focus on populist gestures rather than effective governance. However, the far right in Europe has evolved, displaying a newfound potential to implement policies that align with their agenda while maintaining a pragmatic approach to governance.
An illustrative example is Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose administration, including Salvini, prioritizes curbing migration, achieving economic sovereignty, and safeguarding traditional values. Meloni’s collaboration with European peers, as seen in recent high-profile visits to Tunisia, reflects a shift in the far right’s approach. Rather than mere Euroscepticism, the new far right strategically utilizes Europe, its institutions, and negotiating power to advance their interests.
While skepticism persists about the sustainability of alliances between far-right governments and European institutions, there’s potential for this pragmatic breed of far-right actors to collaborate long enough to influence a more united Europe. Key areas for integration, such as defense, external borders, and economic policy, could see progress, aligning with far-right promises to constituents.
Surprisingly, the far right may inadvertently contribute to strengthening the European Union in a multipolar world. Issues like the expansion of the EU to include Ukraine and Western Balkan countries, championed by far-right governments in Poland and Italy, could necessitate significant institutional transformations. If the far right leads this transformation, it could mark a pivotal advance in European unity, albeit one based on an ethno-nationalist concept of a European “civilization.”
The paradox lies in the far right positioning itself as the champion of a strong European identity, albeit one rooted in ethno-nationalist ideals. While traditional notions of European unity envisioned greater cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism, the rise of the far right prompts speculation about the emergence of a European identity grounded in “ethnoregionalism.”
The pivotal question revolves around whether the far right can shed its old-fashioned, narrow nationalism and embrace a new form of “European nationalism” that strengthens the continent, even if it risks making it aesthetically less appealing. The choices made by leaders like Meloni will determine whether this phase of far-right rule in Europe results in impotent extremism or paves the way for a new political hegemony on the continent.