Research
Kai Arzheimer: Contextual Factors and the Extreme Right Vote in Western Europe, 1980-2002. ‘After the Second World War, the extreme right (ER) in Western Europe was associated with the atrocities of the Nazis and their puppet regimes (Rydgren 2005) and was therefore politically isolated and insignificant in most countries of the region. But from the early 1980s on, an unexpected third wave of right-wing extremist party activity swept over the continent. All of a sudden, parties that were dubbed as “extreme”, “radical”, “populist” or “new” right proved highly successful at the polls in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.’
Comment
Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser for LSE Blogs: Scholars should not just assume that populism is bad for democracy, but should instead concentrate on explaining populism’s positive and negative effects.’Is populism good or bad for democracy? This question has received increasing attention in the last years. Most recently, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti called for a meeting of European heads of state to discuss the growing negative influence of populist forces in Europe. Similar warnings have been issued not only in the United States due to the rise of the Tea Party movement, but also in Latin America because of the electoral triumph of leftist populist presidents such as Hugo Chávez in Venezuela. Despite this increasing worry about the emergence of populist leaders and parties, there is almost no cross-regional research on the impact of populism on democracy. While it is true that the amount of studies on one singular case (e.g. Evo Morales in Bolivia) or a set of similar cases in a particular region (e.g. populist radical right parties in Europe) has been growing in the last decade, there is a scarcity of works that try to develop a broad comparative perspective to grasp the ambivalent relationship between populism and democracy.’
Belgium
Myrtle Beach News: Belgian elections a test of Flemish separatists. ‘Belgians are going to the polls in municipal elections seen as a test of separatist sentiment in the northern Dutch-speaking Flanders region. In particular, observers are watching the wealthy northern port of Antwerp, where Bart De Wever of the NV-A separatist party is seeking to become mayor and use the city as a base for a bigger challenge during national elections in 2014. De Wever has been at odds with economically ailing French-speaking Wallonia.’
Radio Netherlands Worldwide: Flemish separatists seek breakthrough in Belgium vote. ‘Belgian local elections Sunday have taken on unusual importance as a potential make or break vote on the country’s future, with Flemish nationalist leader Bart De Wever seeking a big breakthrough. The outcome is also being closely followed as the eurozone debt crisis tests loyalties in the European Union, driving some such as Catalonia in Spain or Scotland to push harder for independence.’
France
Guardian: Al-Qaida-linked Islamists in Mali threaten French citizens after UN move. ‘Islamists in Mali threatened Saturday to “open the doors of hell” for French citizens, in a statement following the adoption by the UN Security Council of a plan to oust al-Qaida linked militants from occupied territory. The UN resolution, proposed by France and approved Friday, expressed alarm over the infiltration by “al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), affiliated groups and other extremist groups,” and condemned “the abuses of human rights committed in the north of Mali by armed rebels, terrorist and other extremist groups”.’
Italy
Alaska Dispatch: Seeking independence in Europe: Scotland, Catalonia, and … Venice? ‘It was once one of Europe’s richest trading powers, with its ships and merchants found across the Mediterranean. Venice’s glory days have long since passed, but it is now rekindling its heritage and weighing a return to independence from Italy. It may seem fanciful, but a burgeoning independence movement is confidently predicting that it will achieve nationhood before two of Europe’s other restive regions, Scotland and Catalonia.’
The Netherlands
Comment - The Copenhagen Post: Grain of Sand Immigrant has become a dirty word. ‘In this regard, ‘immigrant’ has become a dirty word like the word ‘Judenschwein’ which was used by the Nazis to refer to Jews. The proud people did not call themselves this word at all. It was a word fostered upon them in order to demean them. The word ‘n****r’ is also such a dirty word. And the word ‘spic’ is another dirty word used to refer to the proud Latinos. Such words have no use in a progressive humanity. And now, ‘immigrant’ has become another such dirty word. In this regard, ‘immigrant’ has become a dirty word like the word ‘Judenschwein’ which was used by the Nazis to refer to Jews. The proud people did not call themselves this word at all. It was a word fostered upon them in order to demean them. I have witnessed the word ‘immigrant’ take on a new meaning in the current Danish and European debate, which is fuelled by the far right and a general resentment of foreigners.’
