The Rise of the Far Right in Western Europe: A Study of Causes and Consequences

Abstract

This study examines the rise of the far right in Western Europe over recent decades, highlighting how far-right movements have shifted from the margins of political life to positions of decision-making or substantial influence over public policy. The study addresses the complexities of this rise by posing key questions about the structural and contextual factors that have contributed to it. It also analyzes the main political and social consequences of this phenomenon and the extent to which it threatens the values of democracy and pluralism on which contemporary European democracies are founded.

The research seeks to understand the phenomenon in both its theoretical and practical dimensions, with particular attention to the economic, social, and cultural contexts that have fueled its growth—especially amid economic crises, waves of migration, and declining trust in traditional parties. It further explores how far-right actors have capitalized on these dynamics to present themselves as a political alternative capable of “restoring national sovereignty” and countering perceived threats to European identity.

To achieve its objectives, the study adopts two complementary methodologies: the descriptive-analytical method, which helps define the nature of the far right and identify the drivers of its rise; and the comparative method, which examines selected case studies from France, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. This dual approach allows the study to reveal both commonalities and differences across cases and to assess the political and social outcomes of this rise.

Overall, the research aims to provide a balanced and in-depth understanding of this phenomenon within a European context marked by political volatility that may reshape the future of Western democracies.