The Rise of Populism in Europe: A Shift in Political Landscapes

                        The Rise of Populism in Europe: A Shift in Political Landscapes

Over the last ten years, Europe has witnessed the populist powers rising against the rules of the mighty political institutions. Populist powers, long controlled by authoritarian politicians, have had tremendous successes in Italy, Hungary, Poland, and France. European populism is defined by an anti-elitist crusade where the leaders have taken to the streets against immigration, globalization, and the failures of the EU.


The best case in point is that of Italy's Matteo Salvini, the leader of the nation's far-right League party and whose anti-EU and anti-immigration rhetorical salvos have drawn both adoration and derision. The same holds true of Hungary's Viktor Orbán, the EU's most vocal critic when it comes to issues of immigration as well as going above and beyond in efforts to restrict democratic liberty within Hungary. In Poland, pushback judicial reform was advocated by the Law and Justice Party (PiS) at the cost of the rule of law and the pressure on EU institutions.


While these movements claim to bring power back to the people, some view them as attempts at democratic consolidation and the creation of cleavages. European populism is but one of many measurements by which a wider move out of mainstream politics due to economic uncertainty and strain on Europe by the refugee crisis can be characterized.


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