6. Europe and the Spread of Nationalist-Populism

This chapter focuses on the spread to and the consequences of nationalist-populism to continental Europe. It describes Trump’s role, especially disparaging NATO and the EU as he does other multilateral institutions, in spreading the ideology to countries like the Netherlands and France where populists like Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen and Germany’s AfD remain out of power and to several countries where populists have been or remain in government, notably Hungary, Poland, Italy, and Turkey. It describes the evolution of populism in each of these following the 2008 financial meltdown and fostered by Russia, and their leaders cite Trump as their inspiration. The discussion is regional. It begins with Western Europe where, despite populist politicians, liberal governments remain in office but where populism is spreading and mainstream parties and politicians like French President Emmanuel Macron are adopting populist policies and rhetoric, notably in regard to Islam and immigration. It then turns to more recent Eastern Europe members where populists remain or have served as part of governing coalitions. As well as the East–West division in Europe, the chapter also addresses a North–South division between wealthy norther EU members and poorer EU southern members.