Populism in Europe results from Fear & Greed

By Mordechai Ben-Menachem,

Conclusion of the “Cold War” did not result an ending of history, as Francis Fukuyama predicted, but rather in a multipolar world and a massive civilization clash as Samuel Huntington so pithily predicted would occur.  The previous bipolar world “spread” into a seemingly “infinite” civilizational divide – the surge of Islamist terrorism, as demonstrated by the attacks of 11 September, as well as the various ethnic clashes South and Southeast Asia, clear examples.  This effects inter-country relations, at every level, and in almost every country-to-country interaction.  Violence is on a constantly rising level in every area of the world; and with an increasingly sectarian trend.  While one example of this is the intensifying difficult situation of Christians in Muslim countries (see here).  

All report also show increasing trends of antisemitism, and not only resulting from Muslim radicalism, but also in European society, at every level (not ‘just’ so-called “far-right extremist parties”).

The “new sectarian multipolar world” turmoil affects everyone; the ultimate victims are moderate and tolerant people.

As civilizational tensions spread across the globe, Europe is most vulnerable because of its ageing demography and trend of population decrease and because of its political weakness, particularly in southern Europe.

Putin’s meddling and the dilemma of inclusion

One ‘pole’ of the multi-polar activity is Russia – desperately attempting to recover its Global influence, despite it crashing demography.  The main Russian strategy is fear leverage.  Democratic governments throughout Europe have failed to promote a sense of security among their citizens.  The Russians are able to leverage European peoples’ fear of the immigrants because Europeans express a sentiment of insecurity, specifically as they perceive other global leaders take strong positions to defend their culture and values.

Leftist and “progressive” parties attempt to replace their traditional urban “working class” base, which has basically disintegrated due to Western economic success, with “ethnic minorities.”  Thus, they try to gain Muslim and immigrant voters, even in presence of a vast “conflict of interest” between conservative Islamic values and the traditional Western values; and even in a post Christian epoch.  Thus we see how they completely ignore the fight for gender equality and against homophobia while being quietly complicit in destruction of Christian communities throughout the cradle of Christian civilization, the Middle East.

The main challenge for leftist and progressive European parties is Can Europe’s left pursue Muslim voters without undermining their prior liberal values?  Do these values continue to exist?

The wave of migrations from Libya and Syria created Europeans concerns, fear and xenophobia, which in turn fuel the “demographic Jihad” in a very dangerous feedback loop.  This concern is enhanced by messages from Muslim leaders, like Erdogan in his message to Muslims living in Germany: “The places where you work and live are your homelands and new countries now… Drive the best cars. Live in the most beautiful houses.  Make five children — not just three.  For you are the future of Europe.”

Mainstream parties have not acted to reassure people that Islamist tendencies will not be tolerated, quite the opposite.   They much prefer to state that European Christian values will be disrespected and that secularism will be defended in name only; all more ‘politically correct’ but less emotionally evocative, particularly for youth who need and desire clear moral direction.

Extremist parties are increasingly able to take advantage of citizens’ fears to promote themselves as the only real defender of European values.  Putin is viewed as an example of a true leader, willing and capable to defend national values and tradition.

Links between political parties and their electoral base “psychology” should be investigated to better comprehend societal weaknesses and to avoid foreign use of these; thus jeopardizing the basis of Western democracy.

Perhaps, it may behoove reviving thinking that one enemy of the West may be the power-hungry nature of unfettered political parties.  We all need to reject extremism based on baseless theories and be much stronger defenders of our values and political traditions.