The Roots and Implications of Rising the Right Wing in Europe

• Author: Hadi Ajili, Yoosof Seify
• Pages: 375-388

International Relations in the Contemporary World. Geopolitics and Diplomacy

375

International Relations in the Contemporary World.

Geopolitics and Diplomacy

The Roots and Implications of Rising the Right Wing in Europe

Hadi Ajili1, Yoosof Seify2

Abstract: During the last few years, extremist right-wing parties in European countries have found considerable

popularity. In comparison with the past, they have achieved more seats in the European Parliament. Meanwhile,

their slogans and policies are reminiscent of fascist ideals in the first half of the twentieth century. Before such

seizing power, Europe was faced to the global financial crisis in 2007; the event which had considerable effects

on politics and economics in Europe, such as the emergence of reformist and protesting movements. With regard

to the consequences of the emergence of this trend in Europe on Iran's national security, its impact on the

relations between Iran and Europe in the future and the opportunities and threats that will follow, the authors of

this paper are aimed to examine the origins and consequences of this issue of power. Theoretically, the

framework of the Frankfurt school is taken into consideration in response to how fascism rose in Europe, the

financial crisis in the capitalist s ystem and the lack of sufficient strength to deal with it. Thereby, inefficiency

and insecurity in the economy lead the society to the extreme right tendencies and provides the groundwork for

the formation of fascist states. According to this theory, European governments have not been successful in

handling the economic crisis during 2007 - 2009 and the failure resulted in increased popularity of extremist

right parties. Also, as the disability of European governments in dealing and controlling the effects of the

economic crisis continues, the extrem right tendencies will obscure the future life of European Union.

Keywords: Frankfurt School; Economic Crisis; Right-wing; Europe Union

Introduction

Capitalistic economy faced with various challenges in last years of the previous decade. The begging of

crisis started with intensive depression in housing market. This event rooted from incorrect policies of

loan giving according to ideas of many people. This crisis showed itself seriously in people daily lives

since 2007. Many people lost their jobs or faced with significant buying power reduction, many banks

and credit institutions bankrupted, governments incomes reduced, and countries in crisis faced with

serious challenge in economic growth.

In addition to this economic crisis, evolutions in other social fields expressed new groups and

movements or reinforced some of professional groups as a part of them. Although, the social response

to governmental policies for financial crisis in Europe after occupying Wall Street movement and later

along with it includes varied intellectual and political movements from right-wing and left-wing, the

1 Assistant Professor of International Relations, Allameh Tabataba’i University,Tehran, Iran, Address: Dehkadeh-ye-Olympic,

Teheren, Iran, corresponding author: hadiajili@yahoo.com.

2 Student of PHd of Science and Research Branch (Islamic Azad University), Iran, Tehran, Address: Islamic Azad University

Arak Branch, 3km road town of Khomein, Imam Squ are Imam Khomeini , Arak, Iran, Tel.: 086 -341324513-9. E-mail:

yseifi@yahoo.com.