We are the future: On the rise of Europe’s far right
The year 2016 opened up with the first congress in Italy of the Europe of Nations and Freedom political organization, notably the far-right group in the EU parliament, and then with a neo-fascist party entering in the Slovakian political system after elections in March. This led a prominent right-wing leader to claim, “get used to it: We are the future”. This talk reflects on the popularity of the heirs of fascism, along with some of the reactions to them. It also wonders if European elites, including the center left, are culturally ready/willing to respond to this right-wing politics. This is especially relevant because of the decline of anti-fascism as a political culture and the embracing of neo-liberal austerity.
Andrea Mammone is a historian of Modern Europe at Royal Holloway, University of London. His Transnational Neofascism in France and Italy is published by CUP (2015). He is presently writing a short book on recent nationalist Europe. He has also written for Al Jazeera, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Times, and New Statesman.