Right-wing Populism and the European Union Somdeep Sen* Abstract Since its inception the European Union has transformed itself from a mere economic partnership to a regional cooperation, supposedly, embodying laws and values ‘universally’ accepted as ‘good’. This very character has encouraged the EU to pursue the role of a global actor that not only personifies this ‘value-system’ but also strives at disseminating them into the rest of the world. But, over the years the rise of right-wing populism throughout Europe has threatened to challenge some of the core orientating aspects of this ‘value-system’. While electoral victories have demonstrated their ability to impact the character of the EU within its boundaries, this study wonders what impact the rise of the right-wing populism could have on the European Union as a global actor.
Key words: Far-right, Right wing populism, European Union, Global Actor, Foreign Policy
Introduction At the end of the Second World War, Europe embarked on a landmark initiative in peace building through regional integration and cooperation that ultimately led to the creation of the European Union. Involved in a plethora of political, economic, environmental and social issues, it is safe to say today that the EU often articulates its specific stance based on a particular framework of basic values. These values include the notions of freedom,
Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 9, No. 2, Summer 2010
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