The rise of the Far Right

The rise of the Far-Right Politics

Get into an argument with someone over politics in the current day and you say something that the other person disagrees with then it is almost certain you will get one of two reactions, “Nazi” or “Fascist.” This is an offshoot of what Mark Godwin (Godwin’s law) noticed "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches." We here at PRESC Tutoring find lazy historical analogy’s an indictment of modern-day ignorance. Indeed, a sign that the argument needs to end or has indeed been won is when your opponent resorts to unoriginal tropes such as these.

However, what is not in doubt is that in Europe and indeed the world there is a rise in Far-Right political gains. As in an earlier article on why Trump may win, this is not a partisan article one way or the other and will not take sides in the argument. Instead, it will look to explain in an objective manner the PRESC factors that have seen a rise in populism. Before we start, a quick definition and explanation of what the ‘far right’ means would be useful. Far-right ideologies promote nationalism, a strong preference for traditional social values, and often a distrust of multiculturalism, immigration, and global institutions. A further point to start – the phrase left and right wing originated in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Those who wished to maintain the status quo and held conservative views were sat to the right of the king. Those who wished for radical change and redistribution of wealth in society sat to the left.

Political

History has shown us that when faith in nations government falters then people seek the extremes ends of the political spectrum for political sanctuary. In the last 12 months Italy, Finland, Sweden, Greece, Austria, Germany, France, Poland, and the UK have all seen increased or significant support for what some were term ‘far right’ parties. One reason for this is the perceived failure of what is called the ‘centre’ ground. Traditional parties of Europe have struggled to adapt to the rise of globalisation and the role of supranational organisations and institutions. This allied with a tired ideological output from both the centre right and left has seen this vacuum filled by more radical groups on the spectrum. The key point to emphasize here is how far right groups portray themselves as the voice of the ‘ordinary’ person who are on their side against out of touch or ‘establishment’ politicians. Without wanting to generalise too much this often resonates with young white men who for a variety of reasons feel that their traditional role in society is being undermined.  

Economic

‘It’s the economy, stupid’ is the quote most oft attributed to why Bill Clinton was able to defeat George H. Bush in 1992. The idea is that for all of things that determine political motivations and intentions ‘money in the pocket and food on the table’ is nearly always the most important. One of the main reasons left and right-wing extremism grew in the 1930’s was the aftermath of the WallStreet Crash and the onset of the Great Depression. This mantra is a true today as it was back then. Europe's economy in 2024 characterised by sluggish growth, lingering inflation, and a challenging recovery path following the pandemic and the energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine. This is turn has led to a cost-of-living crisis where people are legitimately afraid of their financial futures. As a result, far right parties promise to prioritise ‘home grown’ jobs over immigrants and the impact of outsourcing from big conglomerates and multinational corporations.

Religious

One of Europe’s greatest successes post World War Two is its multiculturalism. However, it is not wrong to suggest that modern Europe was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Mass migration in recent years from all over the globe but in particularly the Middle East has seen what Samuel Huntington coined the ‘clash of civilisations’ where he felt that following the fall of the USSR the next battle globally would be fought between Liberal democracies and fundamental Islam. Whether this is true or not is a matter for another discussion, but what can be ascertained is that the rise of the Muslim population in Europe has for some been uncomfortable and unwelcome. Right wing ideologues have always looked at a minority group as the epitome of all evils. To invoke my own Godwin Law, Hitler infamously used the ‘Untermensch’ which for those who do not speak German means ‘socially undesirable’ and was made up of Jews, Slavs, homosexuals, and gypsies. As a result of political and economic dissatisfaction across Europe, a scapegoat has been sought and that has come in the form of Islamic immigration. Faiths can and do live in harmony with each other, unfortunately the media and false perceptions have created a narrative that is now ‘them against us’ which when used in the wrong hands creates a very powerful tool.

Society and Culture

Following on from the above point. Many within Europe fear that the mass migration from across the globe has resulted in a breakdown of society and an erosion of cultural identity. The far-right view progressive movements on race, gender and sexual orientation as threating to their values or social norms. A rejection of ‘woke’ ideology and the perceived damage it causes is a very popular tool of recruitment and support. Far right parties tend to oppose groups such as BLM, LGBT+ etc, favouring policies that preserve traditional social structures and roles. This stance attracts supporters who feel alienated by rapid social changes and perceive them as an unwelcome imposition on their traditional values.

Overall?

Can a 1000-word article truly convey why the far right is growing? Definitely not, but here at PRESC we are looking to produce content that generates debate and start conversations on why and thing happens. Our neutrality is sacrosanct, and we will never pass judgement on what is right and wrong. Instead, we will look to inform and offer building blocks for people to delve into things deeper. But what can be offered is unless mainstream government’s and politicians accept that the PRESC reasons for the far right growing exist then a future of violence, resentment and invoking Godwin’s law will only get stronger…