The Recent Growth of the Fascism in Europe

[Gravedigger01]

The recent recession has caused a rise in Nationalist,Far-Right political Parties throughout Europe. The majority of these parties are members of the Alliance of European National Movements which emphasizes Nationalism, Euroscepticism and Far-Right Beliefs. The reason I have written this article this article now and in the politics section is because this is a current event with the recent success of Jobbik in the recent Hungarian election who managed to get 17% making them the third largest party in Hungary in their first Parlismentary election. Also the BNP(British National Party) is expected to have similar success in the upcoming British Election.Here are the Main European Fascst Parties

Hungary

Jobbik is the Hungarian Party. They have been accused recently of Anti-Semitism and Anti-Romanyism becuase of several comments and policies. The majority of Jobbik supporters were from Rural area's of Hungary that currently suffer form poor transport. The absense of an active Far-Left party in Hungary has added to the Successes in Jobbik the only major left-wing party in Hungary are the Hungarian Socialist Party who have ruled Hungary since the fall of Communism and have taken to Capitalism like a fish to water. The majority of Jobbiks supporters are working class who belive that neither The Socialist Party or Fidesz(the other major party) can protect Hungary from foreigners taking Hungarian Job and the EU controling Hungary instead of the Hugarians.

Britain

There is an upcoming election in Britain were the BNP are expected to do very well.At last years European Parliament Election the BNP got 6.26% of the vote getting them 2 seats which makes the BNP the joint 5th largest party in Britain. Like in Hungary the majority of the BNP's supporters are working class who belive "Foreigners are coming over stealing our jobs" and that believe in Nationalism. I believe that the absense of an active Far-Left Party in Brtian has been one of the reason why the BNP is rapidly becoming popular especially in Working Class Area's. The only large left-wing party in Britian is Labour who have gon to the right and now are pretty much the same as their Conservative Rivals

Belgium

The National Front Party in Belgium has been around for many years but only recently has it seen a sharp increase in popularity. The last election that they took part in was the 2007 Election were they received 2% of seats. However since this their popularity has grown quite a lot and a recent poll has shown much growth and shows that they have the back of about 10% of votes in the Wallonia region(the largest of Belgiums 3 regions).

France

The National Front in France has also seen a sharp rise recently in popularity receiving 11% in the 2007 Presidential Election. The party has seen popularity because France has become a very mulicultural country due to France old Colonies. People from these colonies moved to France and this has since caused ethnic tension. The recession has also added to The National Fronts Success.

Italy

The Tricolour Flame Party has grown rapidly in recent years due to economic problems,growth in Nationalism and ethnic divides within Italy. The party grew from 0.6% to 2.5% in the most recent 2008 General Election hich made them the 5th largest party in Italy.


There are many other Fascist Parties including the National Democratc Party in Germany who have 2% of popular vote but I have not included them in my list because they have been unable to get seats in parliament.

I would like to know other people's opinion to this growth but in opinion the growth is due to

-Ethnic Division caused by myths such as "Foreigners are coming over here to steal our jobs and scrounge of the state"

-Discontent at so called left-wing parties such as Labour in Britain and Socialist Party in Hungary who claim to be left-wing but who support many Capitalist Policies

-The absense of an active real left-wing parties in these countries that appeal to the working class

-Increased Nationalism caused by many factor including wars(Britain) and fears of intergrating into Europe(France)


It is clear that these Fascist Parties are the main rivals of Socialist and Communist Parties in many working class areas throughout Europe. To counteer these Fascist Parties I believe that we will have to step up the campaign by

-Educating people especially in Working Class area's about myths such as "Foreigner are here to scrounge of the state".Sending out leaflets to educate people about this misconception by explaining that the problem is not with foreigner coming over here but rather the fact that there are not enough people protecting foreign workers from exploitation in a foreign country

-Going the extra mile to denounce these so called left-wing parties who adopt right-wing policies and who steal votes from real left-wing parties.

-Creating a unified Far-Left part in countries were they are absent e.g Hungary

I would be very interested to know other people opinions on The Recent Rise in Fascism and how it could be countered

[Andropov]

The strenght of these far-right parties in their respective countries is a sad inditement of the weakness of a proper left wing alternative.
A perfect example of this in Britain is when you see how weak the BNP are in Scotland because the SSP has swept up discontent with the failings of the system.

[RadioRaheem84]

So Europe is also struggling with massive right wing propaganda too? Here in the States the right wing has all but won over the general population as even more liberal minded people tend to side with capitalist bourgeois ideals.

[Antifa94]

We need militant squads.
A literature campaign.
Education sessions.
Ideological study sessions, pamphlets targeting proletarians and the leftist intelligentsia, also, pamphlets condemning fascism aimed at the bourgeoisie, who, whilst not necessarily being leftist can be an ally in fighting fascism.

[Gravedigger01]

The militant squad would be a good idea because from what I see the majority of these Fascist Parties have military wings which they often use to disrupt rallys by other parties. It could possibly seem a it threatening though so it would have to be secret and as seperate form the political party as possible

[Delenda Carthago]

There ain no "rise of the fascism in Europe".All there is is a revolutionary left that cant give good enough ansers to the problems.And that's all there is...

[Followthewhiterabbit]

There definitely has been an upsurge in right wing material in the mainstream UK media, it beggars belief. Most people I speak to agree after talking for a while that the right wing ideas are flawed and that the system is to blame.

Talking and openly debating/debunking the right wing views on these issues is whats going to turn the tide, we haven't seen the same level of growth in Scotland and I thinks it's because the anti fascists up here have been quite good at keeping people like the SDL(EDL) and BNP at bay. A prime example was the Aberdeen BNP billboard, http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/18839 (http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/18839) which I'm not even sure was organised, just people venting on the pricks for lying.

My personal favourite piece of graffitti on the board was something like "asians are lovely".

[Boru]

I wouldn't worry too much about Front Nationale en France, the regionals very recently demonstrated a swing to the left generally. The racist vote in France has consistently at that level historically...

No, what we have to worry about is the UK. The big three have consistently run against the grain of public opinion on the EU and immigration, and the BNP are taking advantage of it.

[Antifa94]

My personal favourite piece of graffitti on the board was something like "asians are lovely".

I saw that too!:)
antifa in britain is decent. there have been attacks on fascist pubs. UAF sucks though.
It's time to subscribe to a by any means necessary policy.

[Spawn of Stalin]

But don't you think that providing a viable left wing alternative is more effective than violently engaging fascists in pub brawls?

[Antifa94]

viable left wing alternative...

that's of the utmost importance, but the predominant pacifism of leftists in Weimar germany didn't work so well, did it?
The Communists could have prevented Hitler through mass action.

[Boru]

I agree with Antifa here.

Besides, creating a viable left wing alternative and beating the living shite out of the fascists are not mutually exclusive.

[Spawn of Stalin]

As much as I respect what they do in practice, I hardly think Antifa punching up the BNP can be considered mass action. As much as I dislike them I do think that UAF have been far more effective at damaging fascist groups than any Antifa group or activist in this particular country.

[Delenda Carthago]

fascism and far right are making moves where the movement cant.the fight against fascism is the fight against the system that creates it.

[Andropov]

Talking and openly debating/debunking the right wing views on these issues is whats going to turn the tide, we haven't seen the same level of growth in Scotland and I thinks it's because the anti fascists up here have been quite good at keeping people like the SDL(EDL) and BNP at bay. A prime example was the Aberdeen BNP billboard, http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/18839 (http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/18839)which I'm not even sure was organised, just people venting on the pricks for lying.
Absolute nonsense, its got fuck all to do with Anti-Facism and alot more to do with a viable organised and effiecient radical left wing party in the SSP which is able to engage and collect dissafection with the system.
This is just what the BNP have done only they have channeled such malcontent into racist and right wing politics.

[Gravedigger01]

I think in the case of the BNP inm Britain the main reason that they asre so popular is because their extreme views have brought them into the spotlight recenlty which has given them much publicity and many supporters. Left-Wing Parties never get this publicity becuase they seem to usually be a bit more moderate in Europe

[Tavarisch_Mike]

I can just speak for my own country, but over here we dont talk about class anymore. The word "working class" seems to be an old thing fore moost sweeds, when they heare it they will think about old days manual loboures like lumberjacks just carrying an axe and a saw, they will not think about the young girl whos flipping burgers at midninght ore the taxidriver and so on.
If we are going to build a real leftist alternative we need to get the basic ideas of class struggle back in peoples mind and if think if that get rooted people will see that they got moore incommon with other workers of other coolors and cultures and that the right wingers ideas are just built on emotions and primitive thinking.

[Boru]

Absolute nonsense, its got fuck all to do with Anti-Facism and alot more to do with a viable organised and effiecient radical left wing party in the SSP which is able to engage and collect dissafection with the system.
This is just what the BNP have done only they have channeled such malcontent into racist and right wing politics.

The SSP?
Ha, don't make me laugh! :laugh:

If they are able to collect and engage disaffection with the system, I'll be interested to see how they do in the coming elections.

[vyborg]

The openly fascist group in Italy (Fiamma Tricolore, Forza Nuova) are irrelevant on an electoral level, but they made some gain among students and backward workers and lumpen due to the collapse of workers parties in the last decade.

Lega Nord, that in the most industrialized area of the coyntry enjoys between 20 and 30% of the vote, has a component that can be considered fascist even if they also claim to be anti-fascist as a party.

Moreover, the former fascists of the MSI are now inside the right wing party PDL. Many of them have a past of street thugs (for instance the mayor of Rome) but now they are very much "normal" right wing politicans.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

BNP oppose Scottish independence, it's possibly one of the many reasons they do so crap up here. BNP support a referendum, but I feel that's nothing more than a vote grabbing measure, no way in hell would Griffin allow the Union to break up if he was in power, it would be too ironic to handle.

[Boru]

The BNP have also said they want to bring Ireland back into the Union...

[vyborg]

And the India too...what a bunch of ridicolous idiots...

[Leonid Brozhnev]

The BNP have also said they want to bring Ireland back into the Union...

I remember reading something about that, made me laugh pretty hard. End the conflict by offering Ireland the thing that started the conflict in the first place? Where do they get their idea's... Dubya's big book of crap foreign policy?

[Boru]

I remember reading something about that, made me laugh pretty hard. End the conflict by offering Ireland the thing that started the conflict in the first place? Where do they get their idea's... Dubya's big book of crap foreign policy?

Escalation is an understatement of what the result would be.

The Americans would be sending us guns in the post daily..

[Andropov]

The SSP?
Ha, don't make me laugh! :laugh:
Yes the SSP.
Perhaps you would like to expand on your answer instead of an emoticon.

If they are able to collect and engage disaffection with the system, I'll be interested to see how they do in the coming elections.
They should get between 7-14% of the vote im guessing.

[Alaric]

So Europe is also struggling with massive right wing propaganda too? Here in the States the right wing has all but won over the general population as even more liberal minded people tend to side with capitalist bourgeois ideals.

Yeah. Barack Obama's the pied-piper leading leftists to drown themselves in neo-liberalism. The Tea Parties have got the working class's attention in a big way.

[RadioRaheem84]

Sometimes I think there is no hope for the States and I should focus my efforts on helping other nations putting forth a more conscious effort at fighting globalization.

The general population here is so disconnected from the rest of the world that the effect globalization and neo-liberalism has on the rest of the world doesn't move them in the slightest. In some cases, it angers them more. And when it hits home (like 9/11 and the 08 Crash) it drives the nation into a mania that makes the situation worse.

The US has been fundamentally pacified by both parties. Most of the responses I get from people on both the liberal left and the right, just say they want to take care of themselves and not think about the situation, or others are defensive about the American empire, as if 'that's life', someone's gotta rule.

I just have a feeling that sooner or later this nation is going to clash with the rest of the world that is seeking an alternative to US global hegemony.

[dubaba]

The BNP have also said they want to bring Ireland back into the Union...And you actually pay attention to what they say?

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Sometimes I think there is no hope for the States and I should focus my efforts on helping other nations putting forth a more conscious effort at fighting globalization.

The general population here is so disconnected from the rest of the world that the effect globalization and neo-liberalism has on the rest of the world doesn't move them in the slightest. In some cases, it angers them more. And when it hits home (like 9/11 and the 08 Crash) it drives the nation into a mania that makes the situation worse.

The US has been fundamentally pacified by both parties. Most of the responses I get from people on both the liberal left and the right, just say they want to take care of themselves and not think about the situation, or others are defensive about the American empire, as if 'that's life', someone's gotta rule.

I just have a feeling that sooner or later this nation is going to clash with the rest of the world that is seeking an alternative to US global hegemony.

I think that's overly pessimistic.

Anyways, are the German National Democrats still an issue? It's hard to gauge from over here, but images like this one (taken a few years ago) are somewhat unsettling:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2b/Neonazimarch.jpg


Though at least Germany does seem to have a leftist, electoral party. It's more than I can say about the US.

[Ligeia]

Anyways, are the German National Democrats still an issue?
They sometimes(but not often) manage to enter the parliaments (which requires 5% of the votes in elections). They(or other similar parties) still march quite often.....
There's enough racism in Germany to gain them some support. Conservatives hold racist views sometimes (and try to gain support like that,too).
I'd say they are still an issue but probably not a too big one (compared to other stuff like neoliberal politics and social-darwinian media).

[Delenda Carthago]

If you live in Germany,the most totalitarian state in Europe,your last problem should be the fascists.

[Boru]

And you actually pay attention to what they say?
Not really, it's on their wiki (or was when I read it).

[Antifa94]

Berlin is red.
and quite free.
Britain is the most totalitarian

[No pasarán]

Berlin is red.
and quite free.
Britain is the most totalitarian

Jesus, you like to overstate things too much sometimes... Britain suffers from a weak, control freak two faced goverment, but they're not as bad as thatcher was although the police haven't changed much. There are more right wing goverments in europe than in Britain.

[Spawn of Stalin]

More right wing maybe, but more authoritarian, I don't know about that. I suppose it depends on whether or not you see Turkey as part of Europe or not.

[Nolan]

The BNP have also said they want to bring Ireland back into the Union...

Blitzkrieg?

[Boru]

Blitzkrieg?
I don't see a big flat plain between Ireland and Britain, do you?
Build ups in NI would be spotted a mile away..


Jesus, you like to overstate things too much sometimes... Britain suffers from a weak, control freak two faced goverment, but they're not as bad as thatcher was although the police haven't changed much. There are more right wing goverments in europe than in Britain.New Labour are only like that because of the Blairites' pandering to the media..

Every newspaper in Britain is constantly talking about how the country is going to the wall, how the "moral fabric of society" is being ripped to shreds by lads in hoodies.

In that sort of environment, politicians' positions are going to be authoritarian.

[pastradamus]

The Biggest Fascist problem in Europe is without doubt the one in Russia, Poland and the other warsaw-pact states. It is to be witnessed from bulgaria's gypsy population (linked to the british national front) to National Bolsheviks in Russia and to Neo-Nazi's in poland. Fascism in on the rise in these places and is a predominantly working-class phenomenom due to the failures represented by the left in these places.

Britain's BNP has made an alarming rise - Yes. However I dont see them to be as big a threat as some other groups. France's fascist movement can be contained as was already stated - it remains at historically unchanged levels.

The Far-right in Holland are in growth but I would not count them as a major threat at this time. Neo-Fasicsts are thankfully, a complete fucking non-existant joke in Ireland. To make up for all this we have a growing left in Scotland, Ireland, Greece, France and many other states.

[Boru]

Britain's BNP has made an alarming rise - Yes. However I dont see them to be as big a threat as some other groups. France's fascist movement can be contained as was already stated - it remains at historically unchanged levels.

The Far-right in Holland are in growth but I would not count them as a major threat at this time. Neo-Fasicsts are thankfully, a complete fucking non-existant joke in Ireland. To make up for all this we have a growing left in Scotland, Ireland, Greece, France and many other states.

The BNP aren't a direct threat, they're an indirect one.
They won't win the election, but they will divert votes from Labour to themselves, leaving the left factions of British Labour in a problem.

The best thing politically for the left in Britain is a non-Blairite majority of MPs within Labour's parliamentary party. Problem is that with working class votes going to the BNP, and the middle class deserting to the Conservatives or the LibDems, that party is unlikely to emerge..

Ireland's neofascists do exist, they're just hilariously small and disorganised.

[pastradamus]

Ireland's neofascists do exist, they're just hilariously small and disorganised.

Thats obviously what I meant.

[Crux]

Thats obviously what I meant.
What about the Blueshirts? ;)

[Andropov]

What about the Blueshirts? ;)
Probably the only army to go to the Spanish Civil War and come back with more members than they left with.
A laughing stock among the Irish.
In fact if memory serves me correct I think the only engagement they had in the whole war was actually when they were shot on by accident by Francos soldiers.
Eventually they were told to pack their bags and go home since they spent half the time getting pissed and making a show of themselves.
I.E. the Irish Facist Scene.

[Delenda Carthago]

Its weird cause in athens indymedia there was a topic last week posted by a greek that lives in Ireland where he describes how racism in Ireland has gone wild...:confused:

[Gravedigger01]

I wouldn't say that we're that racist in Ireland. They may be talking about the recent stabbing of a black teenage here in Dubin. It was racially motivated but there are very few stories like that In Ireland. Racism still exist here but I wouldn't say that it has "gone wild"