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  Yet signs that older patterns eroding Wider swings in elections Wider swings in elections Weakening support for established parties Weakening support for established parties Growth of new right 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-EU anti-immigrant anti-immigrant anti-establishment anti-establishment  Positions not always internally consistent Tend to be anti-state, pro market Tend to be anti-state, pro market But sometimes also protectionist But sometimes also protectionist

Explaining the New Right  Weakening hold of established parties: Difficulties maintaining or re-establishing electorates of belonging – loyal supporters 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 UK Denmark Denmark  EU & Europe as an elite project, about which voters were not consulted Enlargement Enlargement EURO EURO Constitution Constitution  Dutch and French referenda as example Desire to ensure local (member-state) control 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 Marginal economic position – insufficient employment or opportunities Differences in values – caught between two worlds Differences in values – caught between two worlds Incomplete acceptance by host populations 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 Saga of Pim Fortuyn Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party Geert Wilders and the Freedom Party

Where is this going?  Is the New Right a new party family? Patterns of surge and decline Patterns of surge and decline Difficulties when brought into government Difficulties when brought into government  Responses from established parties: Policy shifts… Policy shifts… Repositioning & regrouping… Repositioning & regrouping…