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Emerging Cleavages. A New Europe? A New Right?. Final Exam:. Thursday, April 17 th 9-11:00 AM SN2000 List of questions to be distributed Thursday Format: 2 Essays. Europe in the new millennium. A larger and somewhat deeper European Union Democratic Generally prosperous
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Emerging Cleavages A New Europe? A New Right?
Final Exam: Thursday, April 17th 9-11:00 AM SN2000 List of questions to be distributed Thursday Format: 2 Essays
Europe in the new millennium • A larger and somewhat deeper European Union • Democratic • Generally prosperous • Yet signs that older patterns eroding • Wider swings in elections • Weakening support for established parties • Growth of new right
The New Right • Front Nationale (FN) in France • Lega Nord (LN) in Italy • Freedom Party (FPÖ) in Austria • Democrats (Sweden) • Danish People’s Party • Flemish Block (Belgium) • List Pim Fortuyn (LPF) and the Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands
New Right Parties • Populist • Leader-centred • Common features: Anti parties • anti-EU • anti-immigrant • anti-establishment • Positions not always internally consistent • Tend to be anti-state, pro market • But sometimes also protectionist
Explaining the New Right • Weakening hold of established parties: • Difficulties maintaining or re-establishing electorates of belonging – loyal supporters • Ability of capitalize on disgruntlement, sense that things are not quite right • Use of local issues – e.g. Lega & anti-southern sentiment • Use of the media
Euro-skepticism • Stronger in some countries than others • UK • Denmark • EU & Europe as an elite project, about which voters were not consulted • Enlargement • EURO • Constitution • Dutch and French referenda as example • Desire to ensure local (member-state) control
Anti-immigrant sentiment • Immigration & migration largely unplanned or not fully thought through • Growing concentrations, especially in larger centres • Incomplete integration and assimilation • Marginal economic position – insufficient employment or opportunities • Differences in values – caught between two worlds • Incomplete acceptance by host populations
Anti-establishment sentiment Elites seen as • Out of touch • In collusion – parties the same • Not coping with real problems Examples: • Austria: reaction against proporz & power-sharing • Netherlands: • Saga of Pim Fortuyn • Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party
Where is this going? • Is the New Right a new party family? • Patterns of surge and decline • Difficulties when brought into government • Responses from established parties: • Policy shifts… • Repositioning & regrouping…