Belinsky Andrey Victorovich – Ph.D. in Political Sciences, Senior Researcher, INION RAS.
The article examines the evolution of the right-wing camp (conservatism, right-wing populism, right-wing radicalism) at the beginning of the 21st century. It is noted that the erasure of distinctions between the leading parties, the transformation of society and the end of the Cold War led to a crisis of identity of right-wing parties and forces in Europe. Conservative parties have shifted towards the centre while abandoning their traditional values and ideas. As for right-wing radical and right-wing extremist organisations, they found themselves in a kind of political ghetto without the support of a significant part of society and the media. However, the erosion of the middle class, the negative consequences of globalisation, the problems of migration, the permanent fear of loss of social status, coupled with the inability of centrist parties to solve the problems at hand, gave the right-wing a historical chance. Already in the mid- to late 1990s, right-wing radical and right-wing extremist organisations achieved regional successes in a number of European countries. However, the real renaissance for the right-wing in Europe came in the mid-2000s, when, after modernization, right-populist parties began to make serious electoral gains. At the same time, there is a shift to the right of conservative parties in a number of European countries (Austria, France, etc.). In 2020–2023, Europe experienced a third wave of the right-populist offensive, which was reflected in the electoral victories of Law and Justice in Poland, Fidesz in Hungary, in the rapid growth of popularity of Alternative for Germany, the Freedom Party of Austria, etc.
right-wing camp, right-wing populism, M. Le Pen, Alternative for Germany, Freedom Party of Austria, EU.
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