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.

  • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    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.

    • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      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.

      • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        but it is not present equally everywhere.

        The French are basically as racist as everyone else so not really seeing what is so mystifing about this.

        • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          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?

          • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            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.

            • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              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?

                • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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                  5 months ago

                  I very clearly just did, sorry if it was a little subtle. You know we’re on the internet, right? Do you just believe everyone on here? That’ll really fuck your head up.