Ugly populist nationalism is alive and well, as some of the results in the recent European elections are showing. Marine Le Len's National Rally (formerly the Front National) overtaking Emmanuel Macron and his centrist party, even though the National Rally actually lost some percentage points from their 2014 election total.
Still, the fact that it came in first should ring some alarm bells. It was not the only country which saw populism rise. That happened in Italy. It also happened in Austria. And especially in Hungary, which may have the most far-right extremist government seen in Europe since the end of World War II.
Yet France is a special case, in many respects, being the biggest of these nations, as well as the one that most western nations can identify with as a traditionally major European player of western, democratic and more or less capitalist values.
When I was in college, I learned about how some feel that there are actually two Frances that exist within the one nation. There are the Republicans, the one who tried to challenge the established order in a series of revolutions and episodes of political turmoil dating back to the biggest one, which was the French Revolution itself. Then, there is the Royalist segment, which believes in the older, traditional order of elites ruling over everyone, and which has old-fashioned values. They sympathized with fascist movements that were skeptical of the new age of openness and liberalism, if you will, and many blame them for France's collapse against Germany during World War II, and see it as sabotage.
Apparently, that split between the two Frances is still there.
“There’s a split between the two Frances,” said Jean Garrigues, a political historian at the University of Orleans, between Mr. Macron’s France, “and peripheral France, which considers itself a victim of globalization.”
“This is one of Sunday’s major lessons: the National Rally has the ability to vacuum up the protest vote,” Mr. Garrigues said. “That’s major. They’ve firmly fixed themselves in the political landscape.”
Yes, unfortunately, they have. This does not appear to be some temporary trend, but instead, seems to be settling in for the long term.
And not just in France. In fact, it seems to be taking root in all of those countries mentioned earlier, as well as others, too, including Germany.
Let us also not forget Trump her in the United States, or Bolsonaro in Brazil, or the trend towards it in Australia and Turkey and the Philippines, as well.
Scary times.
Yet France is a special case, in many respects, being the biggest of these nations, as well as the one that most western nations can identify with as a traditionally major European player of western, democratic and more or less capitalist values.
When I was in college, I learned about how some feel that there are actually two Frances that exist within the one nation. There are the Republicans, the one who tried to challenge the established order in a series of revolutions and episodes of political turmoil dating back to the biggest one, which was the French Revolution itself. Then, there is the Royalist segment, which believes in the older, traditional order of elites ruling over everyone, and which has old-fashioned values. They sympathized with fascist movements that were skeptical of the new age of openness and liberalism, if you will, and many blame them for France's collapse against Germany during World War II, and see it as sabotage.
Apparently, that split between the two Frances is still there.
“There’s a split between the two Frances,” said Jean Garrigues, a political historian at the University of Orleans, between Mr. Macron’s France, “and peripheral France, which considers itself a victim of globalization.”
“This is one of Sunday’s major lessons: the National Rally has the ability to vacuum up the protest vote,” Mr. Garrigues said. “That’s major. They’ve firmly fixed themselves in the political landscape.”
Yes, unfortunately, they have. This does not appear to be some temporary trend, but instead, seems to be settling in for the long term.
And not just in France. In fact, it seems to be taking root in all of those countries mentioned earlier, as well as others, too, including Germany.
Let us also not forget Trump her in the United States, or Bolsonaro in Brazil, or the trend towards it in Australia and Turkey and the Philippines, as well.
Scary times.
Europe and right-wing nationalism: A country-by-country guide 24 May 2019
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36130006
Macron Chastened as French Voters Hand Narrow Victory to Le Pen By Helene Fouquet and Gregory Viscusi May 26, 2019, 2:05 PM EDT Updated on May 26, 2019
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-26/macron-humbled-by-french-voters-as-exit-polls-show-le-pen-wins?fbclid=IwAR27dA1w6OS78pPGFQfHjtBmCzYJB61xthjeUEE9DNAH9YwyH6SLeJqrpWc
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