Across Europe — from Spain to Germany and Sweden to Italy — right-wing parties are gaining ground. Dissatisfied with how centrists have handled migration and inflation, citizens are drifting farther right. What can Europe’s center do to win back voters and restore their faith in liberal democracy?
The following Journal of Democracy essays, free for a limited time, cover the European far right’s recent successes, and what they mean for the region’s democratic future.
Will the German Center Hold?
Although Germans flooded the polls, the country is deeply polarized and politically fragmented. Germany’s centrists need to deliver on voters’ concerns. If they don’t, the far-right AfD is waiting in the wings.
Michael BröningWhy Austria’s Far Right Is Rising
Herbert Kickl and his far-right allies have never hidden their contempt for democratic norms, and they are rising in the polls. But those who want to preserve Austria’s democracy may have one last chance.
Filip MilačićIn Europe, Democracy Erodes from the Right
When ordinary voters are given a choice between democracy and partisan loyalty, who will put democracy first? Frighteningly, Europe harbors a deep reservoir of authoritarian potential.
Milan W. Svolik, Elena Avramovska, Johanna Lutz, and Filip MilačićEast-Central Europe: The Young and the Far-Right
Far-right parties in Europe’s newer democracies have been working hard to appeal to younger citizens, and for good reason: Young people’s shifting values make them a ripe target for the far right.
Laura JakliDemocracy and Diversity in Western Europe
Immigration has changed the face of Western Europe. Yet mainstream political parties have largely ignored citizens’ concerns about what immigration means for their societies, leaving them ripe for far-right populists to exploit.
Sheri BermanMacron’s Dangerous Game
France is burning through prime ministers and Macron’s political gambles are going bust. The French president needs to change his tactics before it’s too late.
Thomas Regan-LefebvreWhy Slovakia Is Rising Up in Protest
The people have taken to the streets to demonstrate against corruption and Prime Minister Robert Fico’s pro-Moscow policies. Once again, Slovaks see their future in Europe, not Russia.
John ChinThe 2024 EU Elections: The Far Right at the Polls
The far right celebrated big wins in the 2024 European Union elections, but it has struggled to translate that success into political power. Victory at the ballot box has not made its ideological and organizational divisions any easier to solve.
Cas MuddeThe Shadow of the Swedish Right
The rising, far-right Sweden Democrats keep doing better in Swedish elections. They are now the country’s second-largest party, and their influence on Swedish political life has never been greater.
Bo RothsteinItaly’s Hard Truths
The government of Giorgia Meloni, the country’s first female prime minister, is popular and competent. Her far-right party also enjoys greater democratic legitimacy than any other Italian party in a long time.
Erik Jones
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