When the Right is Wrong

Any political view should be balanced, but I just cannot bring myself to respect the extreme right that is emerging in Europe.

In many countries outside Europe 'socialism' is a bad word. I personally believe that this is an inappropriate reaction to a system that has never been fully implemented anywhere in the world. Fascism and the extreme right have occupied the parallel position in Europe. Since the horrors of World War II Europeans have felt nervous about any developing far right movement. Unlike the position of socialism, I believe that this attitude to the extreme right is truly justified. Fascism was implemented, and it was atrocious.

Despite this natural abhorrence for any hint at fascism, increasingly extreme groups have made gains in the recent European Parliament elections. While the results have not destabilised the ruling European People's Party (who themselves are right orientated), the loss of seats for the main opposition party, the Party of European Socialists marks a movement away from the left. By itself, this is not surprising or worrying. After all, it is entirely healthy in a democracy to have shifts between opposition and government, left and right. However, a closer look at some of the parties making gains in this election highlights a much more unsettling development.

Most notably, the rise of the British National Party and the Dutch Freedom Party should terrify all equality supporting citizens. The BNP are synonymous with acts of racism and demands for border closure. Their party guidelines explicitly exclude people not born in the United Kingdom, regardless of citizen status. The Dutch Freedom Party shows equally disturbing patterns with their racially charged policies and anti-Islam film production. To have members of these parties affecting European Policy is a pattern that I hope will not be sustained in coming years.

The extreme right is wrong and nothing should induce us to give a mandate to these fascists.

-The English Student