2011-11-08

Rise of nationalism in Europe

Far right on rise in Europe, says report
The study reveals a continent-wide spread of hardline nationalist sentiment among the young, mainly men. Deeply cynical about their own governments and the EU, their generalised fear about the future is focused on cultural identity, with immigration – particularly a perceived spread of Islamic influence – a concern.
"We're at a crossroads in European history," said Emine Bozkurt, a Dutch MEP who heads the anti-racism lobby at the European parliament. "In five years' time we will either see an increase in the forces of hatred and division in society, including ultra-nationalism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and antisemitism, or we will be able to fight this horrific tendency."
The second comment is interesting. One thing I look for is where social mood interacts with fundamentals and reality. Social mood declines, but it's the places with weak fundamentals or established movements that are most likely to see rapid changes. In the case of Europe, Muslim demographics are on pace to swamp the natives in some countries, with Holland among the worst cases. Thus, as I've said before, nationalism and anti-immigration are, at this moment, rational reactions to the excessively open policies reached during the last rise in social mood and one place to look for a very strong reaction. By the time the government enacts rational policies, the public may be well on it's way to the other extreme.
Also, the left is absolutely bankrupt and will be unable to stop the rise of the right. Look at the statement from this leftism MEP, who says there will be a rise in "Islamophobia and antisemitism." Except the most radical actor so far is Anders Behring Breivik, who killed dozens of young leftwing political activists in Norway, including some members of the Palestinian Fatah. The rise of antisemitism in Europe is directly correlated to Muslim immigration and left-wing parties are anti-Israel. On top of that, Breivik wasn't just coincidentally killing people who dislike or actively support killing Israelis. Right-wing radical Breivik wrote pro-Israel comments in his manifesto and he chose his targets in part for this reason.
Social mood is declining. Young, male Europeans are turning anti-immigrant in response to mood and they are mainly concerned about Muslim immigration. Those who turn anti-immigration or just consider it, will find a lot of information and arguments that justify at least some reductions in immigration or changes to current policies. What they will hear argued back at them, is that they are Jew-hating xenophobes. This doesn't make one lick of sense, and that's why I say the right has nothing to stop it. It's just a matter of time and building support, the left burned out its ideology at the peak in social mood.

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