Xenophobia has been the single most effective issue during the last decade and more for far-right parties in Europe who oppose democracy and the rule of law. But to understand the process that leads to authoritarianism with xenophobia holding its hand, it’s important to keep in mind that the far right has not been able to achieve an absolute majority in in any European country with genuinely democratic elections. (Hungary under Viktor Orban’s system does not have genuinely free and competitive elections.)
As the examples of Britain, France, and Italy have all shown – to take three big examples - it has been the adoption of xenophobic and anti-immigration positions by center-right conservative parties that have boosted this trend and has tended to strengthen the far-right parties rather than the center-right parties gaining strength by co-opting nativist sentiments. And in some cases, notably in Germany, the center-left and now event he far left have started embracing this kind of destructive and self-immolating politics.
Here is a September 14 report on the results of the trend in the Netherlands: (1)
Notes:
(1) What’s behind the [Dutch] government's plan, what does it mean for migration? DW News YouTube channel 09/14/2024. <https://youtu.be/irvM7h1vXHs?si=rI_-5q1xylfBWCEZ> (Accessed: 2024-15-09).
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