Author (Person) | Salo, Sanna |
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Publisher | Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) |
Series Title | FIIA Briefing Papers |
Series Details | No.159, June 2014 |
Publication Date | 26/06/2014 |
ISBN | 978-951-769-423-0 |
ISSN | 1795-8059 |
Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog |
Abstract: In the May 2014 European Parliament elections, Eurosceptic parties mobilized on a new cleavage between the winners and losers of globalization, which mainstream parties have neglected. The Eurosceptic surge should not be regarded merely as populism or protest, but a legitimate articulation of concerns about the new economic underclass – the globalization losers. The articulation of the new cleavage varies according to domestic political contexts and traditions: in France, the Front National mobilized on themes of ethnic unity and national sovereignty; in Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland raised concerns over monetary independence in the eurozone, while in the UK, UKIP campaigned with anti-immigration and economic welfare themes. Since the EP elections, the Eurosceptics have seemed intent on polishing their images and on being perceived as respectable office-seeking parties, both in the EP and at domestic levels. Respectability requires a non-xenophobic agenda: in the EP, other Eurosceptics refused to cooperate with the FN due to the party’s anti-semitic past; yet the AfD, mobilizing on a more economic agenda, managed to join the ECR group dominated by British Conservatives, while UKIP managed to reform its EFD group. |
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Source Link | Link to Main Source https://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/eurosceptics-in-the-2014-ep-elections |
Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
Countries / Regions | Europe |