‘Nationalism-lite’ will contaminate mainstream Europe

Subject

Growing nationalism in European politics.

Significance

In contemporary Europe, far-right parties and extremist voices lack the electoral support to reach the levers of power without mainstream parties’ support. Such parties’ willingness to ally with extremists in government in Austria, Finland, Bulgaria, Denmark and Switzerland, or reluctance to move swiftly to curb nationalist voices in their midst in the United Kingdom, Romania, Poland, Croatia and Hungary, are the main reasons behind the prominent nationalist agenda in Europe and elsewhere.

Impacts

• The increasing inclusion of far-right parties in cabinets will further legitimise societies’ retreat from the values of liberal democracy.
• Mainstream parties will increasingly feel compelled to make concessions to nationalist electoral preferences.
• Democratic institutions will continue to weaken in Central-Eastern Europe.
• EU parties will face mounting challenges in constraining centrifugal forces.