Populism and Extremism: The Immediate Political Challenges to Europeanism

Abstract

Perhaps the greatest challenge to Europeanism today is Europe itself. In the midst of the banking and economic crises that evolved most aggressively within the peripheral European states, the European Central Bank proceeded to overcome their rigid monetary policy approaches as we edged closer towards economic collapse. The financial crises have now been closely followed by a political crisis inspired by the dramatic influx of illegal immigration. As a result, Europe finds itself at a crossroads inspired by populist shifts to the left and right, with fear, uncertainty and frustration leading to the decision by the United Kingdom to trigger Article 50, further fuelling nationalist revolt across a host of key European partners. The aim of our article is to present evidence and explanation for the individual political spectral-shifts within the European Union, while outlining the growth of populist movements since the most recent parliamentary elections.