Economic Pessimism in Europe Fuels Far-Right Rise, Warns The Guardian
An opinion piece in The Guardian argues that Europe's prevailing economic pessimism could pave the way for a rise in far-right parties unless significant reforms are undertaken. The article links the gains of far-right movements to narratives emerging after the 2008 financial crisis, which framed migrants as competitors for scarce resources. However, it highlights data contradicting these claims, citing migrants as net economic contributors. For example, between 2014 and 2018, migrants in Germany contributed approximately €1,500 more per capita than native citizens, and without migrants, Germany's labor force would have shrunk.
The piece criticizes mainstream political responses that have echoed anti-migrant rhetoric and media sensationalism, pointing to austerity and the neoliberal economic model adopted after the financial crash as underlying issues. The eurozone's austerity measures following the crisis are noted, along with the political punishment of Greece's Syriza party for challenging this approach.
In domestic political contexts, the article notes that in France, President Macron's policies focus on extending working lives, while the far-right National Rally proposes reserving social benefits exclusively for French citizens and prioritizing citizens within their own country. In Germany, wage suppression and a balanced-budget ideology, exacerbated by the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have contributed to the surge of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Polling data further illustrates public discontent: nearly two-thirds of German consumers express negative views about the economy; only 25% of British voters are satisfied with democracy; and fewer than 20% express satisfaction in France. The article also highlights wealth concentration in the EU, where about 500 billionaires control €2.3 trillion, with their fortunes increasing by over €2 billion per day in the first half of the year.
Warning that the traditional cordon sanitaire around far-right parties has dissolved, the article references Trumpism as an example of how democratic systems can be undermined. It concludes by stating the critical choice facing Europe is to abandon the current economic model or face further risks to democracy.
