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Europe Going Right

Posted on Friday, August 25, 2023
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by Barry Casselman
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European map in black and white that says Europe Going Right

After World War II, European politics shifted sharply to the left. Much of Eastern Europe, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, East Germany and Yugoslavia — each of which was occupied by the Soviet Red Army after the war— went, often by intimidation by the occupiers, to the very far communist non-democratic left and became vassal states of the USSR in the Cold War period from 1947 to the late 1980s.

Greece and Italy had active communist parties, but voted for socialist governments. Great Britain, even before the war ended, elected a socialist Labour regime. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands soon moved to the left. The Scandinavian countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland adopted celebrated social welfare programs that were held to be the models of Europe’s left-wing future.

Only Spain and Portugal, neutral during World War II, maintained right-wing governments under longtime dictators until the 1970s, when, discarding totalitarian rule, they too voted for liberal governments.

Many U.S. Democrats — liberals, progressives, and radicals alike — idealized this European leftward shift, especially the Scandinavian social welfare models.

Thus in the period of conservative government in the U.S., from 1981 to 1993, and of more centrist politics from 1994 to 2009, American politics stood in clear contrast to regimes chosen by Europeans.

Flash forward to 2023, and we see a dramatic change in this political picture. In recent elections, Greek voters elected conservative candidates. Just as recently, Italian voters also elected a new conservative government. The latter, defying predictions, is doing well and remains popular.

Eastern Europe, including Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria have conservative governments.

Although they won the just-completed national election, Spanish conservatives are unable to assemble the necessary parliamentary majority, and a new election might be necessary. Nevertheless, Spanish voters have moved to the right.

Throughout Western Europe, conservative parties are growing, and left-wing parties are shrinking.

Because most European countries employ multi-party parliaments, conservatives are not yet governing. In some countries like Spain, it might only be a matter of time and one more national election before they do.

Even with the centrist government in France, led by relatively moderate Emmanuel Macron, voters have taken away Macron’s parliamentary majority and forced him to govern in an unstable coalition. Conservative opposition leader Marine Le Pen, polls say, has gained voters — although so far she lacks enough support from the smaller French parties to form a government.

Germany, too, has elected moderate governments even longer, but now that Angela Merkel is gone, voters are polarizing to left and right. With its World War II legacy and its delayed unification, not to mention its post-war revived continental economic dominance, German voters do not fit easily into any contemporary ideological model. Its left flank is the Green Party, not its socialist party. The current chancellor is a Social Democrat, but weak. Left leaning parties are in disarray, but the centrist Christian Democrats and right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) parties are not allies, and the German right can’t yet form a government. Far-left “green” energy policies are also making the German industrial sector weaker, and unpopular immigration policies have enabled the AfD to do increasingly well in recent elections.

In the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, conservatives are gaining and winning. Even the leftist Danish government has adopted a conservative immigration policy not unlike those adopted in Eastern Europe.

Because of local issues, the left still governs and wins in a few European nations, but overall the continent’s voters are turning away from unsuccessful socialist and social welfare policies.

It is ironic perhaps that, as many Europeans embrace more and more U.S. conservative policies and ideas, the American government under Joe Biden advocates and implements the failed leftist models that Europe is abandoning.

There are increasing signs, as evidenced in almost all public opinion polling, however, that not only Republicans and conservatives are ready to reject this in 2024, but that many independents and even some moderate Democrats are also ready for new leadership and a new program beginning in January 2025.

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Rik
Rik
1 year ago

As history repeatedly proves, Socialism/Communism policies FAIL! Unfortunately, people seem to have to ALWAYS LEARN THE HARD WAY!

Rob citizenship
Rob citizenship
1 year ago

This is a very good article Barry, it should be appreciated by anyone who understands the importance of these European political patterns and how they indicate the what , why , how , who and when of developments with international significance . This right to the point, clear explanation of the history and present situation is of great value — it helps in the putting things in perspective , provides a better understanding of that part of the world. Very nice to know that a shift to the right politically is established. It is good for morale, it is mentally invigorating in fact, to realize that conservative values are growing across the Atlantic. Thanks for your good work, Well Done !

Lew
Lew
1 year ago

Other poster’s got the economics part. But, not quite far enough. The Germans, French and Baltic states decided to make the Green (environmental) agenda their top priority. They shut down their coal and nuclear (for the most part) power plants. Then relied on Russia for energy supplies. Europe also decided to rely on cheap Chinese labor costs and off-shored their manufacturing. They now rely mostly (France, not so much) on their Chinese supply chain.
Who’d have thunk, when China or Russia want to control you they will cut off what you need. Reliance was rewarded with political extortion by the Russians. Now the Germans and Baltics are stuck with the results of stupid decisions and are going to have a really tough time getting over them, if they ever do.
We, the US, also did this (out-source our manufacturing) to a large extent. We paid for it in the same way, from supply chain problems. We are still having these problems. Our leaders, if that’s what they are, also gave away our mineral sources (for graft, thanks Hillary/Barak). We still have no solution to these.
And, now our moron leaders are banning petrochemicals (of all flavors) and forcing electric vehicles and solar on the American consumers. Stupid decisions have consequences, as do elections.
Think before you vote. Don’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. Otherwise, we’ll be Germany in 5 years on our collective way down the drain.

Gabe Hanzeli kent wa
Gabe Hanzeli kent wa
1 year ago

soros pulled out of Europe. the lefts money source and protection collapsed and the leftists are running for cover. South east Asian is doing the same thing. The corruption the soros / open society foundation bring to anything they touch has all of the world pushing them out of their country. Even China has booted them.

The only only the super corrupt leftists of American, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and parts of south america are left under soros / open society foundation control. OF we vote out the democrats everywhere soros with be out here as well.

Jim
Jim
1 year ago

I like this article because the writer has focused into the true happenings in Europe. It explains why the change which is a teachable moment for those who want the truth.

Robin W Boyd
Robin W Boyd
1 year ago

I’m glad to see European nations moving away from Progressive Leftist governments, but I would not want any nations to become too conservative, as most Islamic run nations are. Too far to either the Left or the Right creates fascism as those of one mindset begin to dictate how everyone should be able to live. The more moderate a nation is, the more all citizens can be treated the most equally as far as their opportunities to better themselves to the degree each desires.

Sharon Ormsby
Sharon Ormsby
1 year ago

That would be wonderful. Hail, hail to conservatism and families and Christianity and Judeo values everywhere!

Jeri
Jeri
1 year ago

Maybe they choose not to be enslaved…

anna hubert
anna hubert
1 year ago

European Union under whose thumb all the countries are regardless of their government rules

Gloria
Gloria
1 year ago

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HERE Copy And Open It ——–>> linkify.me/RtDqHC/?/MakeOnline

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