The longstanding effort to keep extremist forces out of government in Europe is officially over.
For decades, political parties of all kinds joined forces to keep the hard-right far from the levers of power. Today, this strategy — known in France as a cordon sanitaire(or firewall) — is falling apart, as populist and nationalist parties grow in strength across the Continent.
Six EU countries — Italy, Finland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic — have hard-right parties in government. In Sweden, the survival of the executive relies on a confidence and supply agreement with the nationalist Sweden Democrats, the second-largest force in parliament. In the Netherlands, the anti-Islamic firebrand Geert Wilders is on the verge of power, having sealed a historic dealto form the most right-wing government in recent Dutch history.
Meanwhile, hard-right parties are dominating the polls across much of Europe. In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is cruising at over 30 percent, far ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls. Across the Rhine, Alternative for Germany, a party under police surveillance for its extremist views, is polling second, head-to-head with the Social Democrats.
So, I’ve always wondered why the far right is unusually strong in France. I can explain its strength in America, rooted in our culture, history and geography. Parts of Eastern or Central Europe also don’t overly surprise me. I understand Italy.
But why France? What is it that makes Le Pen so strong there? I don’t understand what aspects of French history, culture or geography make this such a problem in what is otherwise a very western nation, with significant wealth and values ostensibly based in liberty and equality.
The french people are very proud of their culture and free spirit, so even hard opinions are articulated freely.
Additionally it appears they struggle with problems in the suburbs (banlieue); The public opinion in europe shifts to blame uncontrolled immigration it appears to me.
From my pov it feels like everyone most people are either racist, or they dont give a fuck about politics
Because they have a strong culture of “I want what I want, and everyone else can get out of the way”. It’s easier to group together when that sentiment is “I want other people to get fucked” than “I want to help better my country and my fellow citizens”. Weren’t there something like three progressive parties in the last election that, instead of forming together to form some kind of coalition, decided to go all in on themselves and split the vote in such a way that they all got fucked?
Doesn’t help that they only seem to really go for what they want when they’ve already lost it, instead of fighting for the future before things actually get bad. Plus a feeling of “If we just have a massive generic protest, we’ll get what we want!” even though they seem to keep having to do it over and over and over, with limited long-term change.
Islamic terrorism since the 80s.
One word: immigration.
Lots of places have immigration. What would make it more upsetting to the French than others?
Also, I don’t think pride alone is enough explanation. Pride in ones culture is also very common pretty much everywhere.
French culture has a long and bloody history specifically centered around getting rid of religious rule (read christianity), and implementing laws that essentially amount to freedom from religion. This is unlike a lot of other countries which focused on freedom of religion.
When large muslim communities form, this often leads to the imposition of their religious expressions upon others. This specifically clashes with French culture, where religion is a private matter, for private spaces. Hence why many french react strongly when muslims complain about how the very laws they relied on to rid themselves of the yoke of Christianity is somehow specifically discriminatory against them.
No, it’s not discriminatory against islam or muslims in particular. It’s a defence mechanism against the imposition of regressive, anti-humanist values on the general population by organized religion.
Maybe human beings are just humans beings. You don’t have to go back to what some writer 400 years ago to put racism in context.
I like a little deeper explanation of my whys. Racism is pretty well understood, but it is not present equally everywhere. That said, 400 year old writings are probably not necessary.
The French are basically as racist as everyone else so not really seeing what is so mystifing about this.
If you think everyone everywhere is racist you just need to travel more. Regardless, the far right is stronger in France than it is just across the channel in Britain, based on voting. Why might that be?
Hmm pretty sure I have been to Germany, Canada, and Thailand within the past 8 months or so. Let me check my passport that is running out of pages for stamps. Yeah seems like I have. In fact it seems like I have traveled abroad quite a few times to quite a few countries for multiple years.
Damn. The Middle East, Latin America, over 40 states, multiple provinces of Canada. I do seem to get around.
Sorry you were lecturing me on your worldly travels. Do continue.
Wow, claims from someone online, neat. And you found a bunch of racism everywhere? Sure.
Regardless, didn’t mean to offend you. The question remains, why, based on the voting, does the far right seem stronger in France than it is in other places that have similar challenges?
Ah, yes, the Big Immigration, like public access radio and television, critical investigative journalism, social sciences, free elections, independent research, public health care and schools, social democracy, and the environment. I keep forgetting that the reason they are against all this is because it is immigrants that run all of them.
That sounds like an American reply, I can’t relate… I live in a first world country.
I don’t know what is more pathetic, that you know so little about european politics that you thing that, or that you are canadian… and what? Pretending to be european?
You have problems. I hope you figure things out. Have a nice day and don’t bother replying because I’m blocking you.