Fascism is not just a convenient political label. It was a monstrous ideology that brought misery to untold millions. Sadly, there is scarcely a better term to describe some of the xenophobic parties that have crawled out of the woodwork into the mainstream of European politics.
The Far Right is on the march again in Europe and can no longer be dismissed as a fringe outcropping. Across Europe, extremist movements have become the new norm as centrist political parties have been battered at the polls in the midst of the worst financial crisis in living memory.
Radical parties have garnered significant victories. In the 2009 elections for the European parliament, the hard right performed extremely well, garnering 15 percent of the vote in some countries. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders Party for Freedom pushed past moderate rivals to emerge the third largest party. Another strong performer, Hungarys Jobbick Party wants the wholesale internment of the Roma minority. The British National Party (BNP), a party which advocates the deportation of non-whites, has performed well in elections. Even in Sweden, a bastion of political liberalism, the Sweden Democrats, a racist party, has secured seats in parliament.
Fascism is essentially based upon negative appeals, and its contemporary manifestation is no different. Virulently nationalist movements have preyed upon the disillusionment of voters seeking to repudiate the political elite, targeted minorities in vicious media campaigns and tapped fears of a loss of national identity.
With unemployment rising, many voters are beginning to turn against the immigrants in their midst. The fact is that many are Muslims concentrated in urban areas who are exploited by these parties. This neatly dovetails with heightened anxiety over Islam since 9/11.
This is eerily reminiscent of the way Jews were demonised by the Nazis from the 1920s onwards. Muslims have become the scapegoats of choice, stealing jobs, harbouring terrorists and will, with supposedly high birth rates, eventually swamp the native population of what will become Eurabia.
Insidious propaganda is deployed. For example, posters produced by the Swiss People’s Party insinuated that minarets are rockets and that a burqa clad woman is a planted terrorist. Shortly afterwards, minarets were banned in Switzerland.
Whether it is Geert Wilders wild demand for a ban on the Quran or the French National Fronts comparison of overflowing mosques in France to Nazi occupation, there is apparently no censure to the vitriol. The feckless EU apparatchiks in Brussels are apparently unwilling to address the problem.
This has emboldened mainstream politicians to take a harder line on Islam. Sarkozys Burqa ban and expulsion of Roma immigrants was an attempt to steal a march on the National Fronts growing popularity. German Chancellor Merkels much publicised comment that Multiculturalism is dead is considered a veiled attack on the Turkish community.
A 2011 poll indicates that the majority of Germans and French think that Muslims are not well integrated into the mainstream. More worryingly, 42 percent of French and 40 percent of Germans consider the presence of Muslims a threat to their national identities. The fact that Muslim youths are regularly arrested for criminality or alleged involvement in terrorism has added to the atmosphere of mistrust. Muslims feel increasingly besieged.
As austerity cuts loom in Europes winter of discontent, many are fearful that the Radical Right will gain further ground amongst Europes frustrated electorate. Salvation may lie in an unlikely source.
The Far Rights rise has been abetted by the poor showing of the Left. They have turned the old dictum that the Left prospers in recession on its head. Support for the Left has apparently dwindled. In the 2009 EU polls, socialists were thoroughly drubbed. Austerity is now beginning to bite into the pockets of Europeans. Will it now breathe new life into the moribund Left?
Throughout the summer, across Europe, workers have become mobilised, as governments tighten their belts and cut public spending. Trade unions have become particularly invigorated and been central to the massive protests staged. Heightened trade union activity bodes well for the Left. There is a real chance for Socialists to recover lost ground. It is notable that leftist parties are less inclined to be prejudiced towards Islam and supporters tend to be more tolerant and open. Given that Europeans are infuriated by Capitalisms inequities, Socialisms stock will undoubtedly rise and form the first real challenge to the Extreme Right.
Undoubtedly, radical expressions of socialism such as communism will also find fertile ground. While it is not probable that Karl Marxs spirit will stalk Europes boulevards again, the possibility of a revival of the Communist movement cannot be discounted.