Extreme right wing populism is rising in Europe... What can we do to stop it?

[Adrusek81]

After posting in here about the very real dangers of radical Islamism in Europe, I couldn't help but to notice that there is a second pernicious force rising all over the continent: formerly marginal pro-Nazi, white supremacist, homophobic, supposedly "nationalistic" groups are acquiring ever greater relevance in many countries, where they have even positioned themselves as important political contenders with representation in the European Parliament.

If you read the two links I'll post, it's interesting to see how in a matter of just a few years, there has been a significant shift regarding the way in which these criminal organisations are perceived. Are we in for widespread support in just a few years? There are problems of racism and xenophobia in Europe which have never been properly addressed. A combination of diminishing resources available for the working classes, a sense of "otherness" and alienation from traditional political parties and prejudice can have terrible consequences - just look at the meteoric rise of Fascism all over the world in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, and the way in which it nearly destroyed the entire continent.

Here are the links:

A Gallery of the European Far Right (http://www.theguardian.com/gall/0,,711990,00.htm"]here, from a few years ago)

Golden Dawn and the Rise of the Far Right in Europe[/URL] (here, a very current article)

Between neo-Nazis and Islamic radicals, Europe appears to be drawing closer and closer to a political and social hecatombe, aided by the inactivity and obsession with protecting plutocrats of the traditional political parties.

 

[bankside]

Okay that first article is about 10 years old.

Greece has a problem though.

 

[Adrusek81]

I know that the first article is rather old. I have posted it precisely to show how the attitude towards the far right has shifted. Would it have occurred to anyone 10 years ago that the European right wing would have the opportunity to contemplate making a coalition int he European Parliament? What about the rise of Marine Le Pen with the revamped Front National in France, the execrable UKIP in the UK, Jobbik in Hungary, the People's Party in Switzerland and the Freedom Party in Austria? many of there parties were on the fringes of the electoral system just a few years ago, and now enjoy very strong support.

 

[kallipolis]

Okay that first article is about 10 years old.

Greece has a problem though.

The OPs hysteria might well suggest that Europe is collapsing....posting ancient media articles...

There is definitely a big rise in popularity for Eurosceptical political parties....in response to the severe austerity facing Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal...

Here in Greece the rise in popularity of our Euro sceptical left wing parties is noteworthy including SYRIZA (a cocktail of radicals, anarchists, communists etc) polling higher numbers than all other political parties with the May local, and European elections approaching our left wing parties should score a huge victory for the left....

I can't speak for other European Union countries but I rather believe that here in Greece there is a fear among moderates that the radicalised Left will present the centre parties with serious problems ....

Our local neo Fascists, Golden Dawn have had several of their members of parliament arrested for acts of violence, and held in custody pending trial...despite a drop in popularity they should continue to poll decent numbers in the May elections....

During crisis times the centre parties loses ground while the fringe parties gain....

 

[unloadonme]

... the execrable UKIP in the UK ...

I have to take issue with you about this. The UKIP is neither execrable nor right wing. It believes that the UK should withdraw from the EU and for that reason alone will be receiving my vote, and many millions more, at next month's European elections.

 

[kallipolis]

^This article amplifies your accurate observation that the UKIP has no truck with European fascists:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...-pen-nigel-farage-slander-antisemitism-claims

I quote:

Marine Le Pen accuses Nigel Farage of slander over antisemitism claims
Spat between leaders of Ukip and French National Front follows Farage's rejection of European coalition offer

 

[Kulindahr]

The best way to undercut it would be to stop treating immigrants any differently than the rest of the population -- no special treatment for religious or cultural differences that pretend to superiority. The remedy for injustice is equal justice under the law.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

Extreme right wing populism is rising in Europe... What can we do to stop it?

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[Adrusek81]

I have to take issue with you about this. The UKIP is neither execrable nor right wing. It believes that the UK should withdraw from the EU and for that reason alone will be receiving my vote, and many millions more, at next month's European elections.

The UKIP is the polite, allegedly "moderate" version of the BNP, and it is supported by middle class xenophobes and racists who don't want to be exposed for what they are, and don't want to feel guilty over the extent of their brutal prejudices. I find it profoundly preoccupying that they are just below Labour in the polls - that despicable creature Nigel Farage can pretend to despise the traditional European radical right as much as he wants: his party's xenophobic, simplistic and populist discourse isn't any different from that of Marine Le Pen. They just cover their ugly fascism with pretty, pseudo-politically correct garnish.

Moreover, they are not even close to power and their incompetence and corruption are already being exposed. Can you imagine the atrocities they'll commit if they are allowed to access power? The disillusioned Tory pigs who will vote for them are probably unhappy over the fact that we haven't gone back to Saxon England, where non-Saxons could be murdered without any legal consequences.

As for their "moderate" and "not racist" ideas... "EU policy at work. British workers are hit hard by unlimited cheap labour". Here's the article exposing their xenophobic electoral propaganda... Oh, sorry, I meant to say disagreement over European policies and that irritating tendency that people from the continent have to drive on the wrong side of the road. This is Britain and we're still and Empire!

Yes, they are not, in anything, like every other crypto-fascist party in Europe.

 

[oakpope]

I'll speak for France. Le Pen's Front National's raise has nothing to do with immigration, but with the rise of unemployment, fear of burglary, corruption in government, raises of taxes and increasing resentment over perceived EU bureaucracy.

And I'm very sorry to say, but simple people tend to like simple answers, preferably ones which come with scapegoats.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

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[Adrusek81]

I'll speak for France. Le Pen's Front National's raise has nothing to do with immigration, but with the rise of unemployment, fear of burglary, corruption in government, raises of taxes and increasing resentment over perceived EU bureaucracy.

And I'm very sorry to say, but simple people tend to like simple answers, preferably ones which come with scapegoats.

And so, people support a party created by a war criminal, with links to organized crime and neo-Nazi organisations? Because demonizing minorities will solve all the problems, apparently.

 

[Adrusek81]

The best way to undercut it would be to stop treating immigrants any differently than the rest of the population -- no special treatment for religious or cultural differences that pretend to superiority. The remedy for injustice is equal justice under the law.

The problem is not just xenophobia, which is only the more superficial, easily identifiable element among these parties. The problem lies in fact that the traditional, supposedly democratic political parties are more preoccupied with protecting the interests of corporations and large financial institutions, than supporting the electorate that has allowed them to exist. As I said in the Islamism thread, there are extreme xenophobia and racism in Europe and no one wants to talk about it. During a period of severe economic instability and social upheaval, it's only normal that the right wing would ascend and declared equality and justice for all are not going to solve the problems of reduction of basic services and the dismantling of the welfare state that has been so crucial to maintaining peace in the European continent for so long, and is the only effective way of achieving the growth necessary to avoid extremism.

As for immigrants, they are different. The real issue here is that difference isn't something negative in itself (except in extreme cases, of course), but it is being demonized by dangerous political factions as a means to giving the electorate something that they desperately crave: someone who can be easily identified who is accessible enough, and can be blamed for everything that's wrong in their lives. Unless growth and prosperity return, and social justice is reinstated, we're in for VERY serious problems.

 

[unloadonme]

The UKIP is the polite, allegedly "moderate" version of the BNP, and it is supported by middle class xenophobes and racists who don't want to be exposed for what they are, and don't want to feel guilty over the extent of their brutal prejudices. I find it profoundly preoccupying that they are just below Labour in the polls - that despicable creature Nigel Farage can pretend to despise the traditional European radical right as much as he wants: his party's xenophobic, simplistic and populist discourse isn't any different from that of Marine Le Pen. They just cover their ugly fascism with pretty, pseudo-politically correct garnish.

Moreover, they are not even close to power and their incompetence and corruption are already being exposed. Can you imagine the atrocities they'll commit if they are allowed to access power? The disillusioned Tory pigs who will vote for them are probably unhappy over the fact that we haven't gone back to Saxon England, where non-Saxons could be murdered without any legal consequences.

As for their "moderate" and "not racist" ideas... "EU policy at work. British workers are hit hard by unlimited cheap labour". Here's the article exposing their xenophobic electoral propaganda... Oh, sorry, I meant to say disagreement over European policies and that irritating tendency that people from the continent have to drive on the wrong side of the road. This is Britain and we're still and Empire!

Yes, they are not, in anything, like every other crypto-fascist party in Europe.

This foaming-at-the-mouth swivel-eyed rant wouldn't be out of place in CE&P. As an evident middle class xenophobe and racist, not to mention disillusioned tory pig, I don't need to see any more rubbish from you thanks.

 

[goldenmoth]

The right wing never went away. They've always been around but as long as people remain sensible and educated they won't come back fully

 

[cgymike]

I have to take issue with you about this. The UKIP is neither execrable nor right wing. It believes that the UK should withdraw from the EU and for that reason alone will be receiving my vote, and many millions more, at next month's European elections.

Isolation can't be good for trade can it?

 

[unloadonme]

Isolation can't be good for trade can it?

Is the USA economically isolated because it isn't a member of the EU? Is Japan?

 

[pat grimshaw]

...no special treatment for religious or cultural differences that pretend to superiority...

WE could start by withdrawing all the tax concessions to Christian organisations.

... The remedy for injustice is equal justice under the law.

They are demanding Sharia Law in Britain and my country.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

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[kallipolis]

WE could start by withdrawing all the tax concessions to Christian organisations.

They are demanding Sharia Law in Britain and my country.

The Jews in the UK have rights under the Mosaic Laws to settle domestic disputes such as divorce according to their religious traditions. I see no reason why Muslims should not enjoy similar rights.....Criminal matters remain firmly within the remit of the criminal justice system.

Tax concessions are a right granted to all organisations providing charitable work inclusive of religous, and non religious groups providing services such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters etc.