Green policies and the rise of the far right in Europe
A new study reveals a growing backlash in Europe against green policies, which is driving voters toward far-right political parties.
Shannon Osaka reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Rising energy costs linked to green initiatives have increased support for far-right parties in Europe, such as the Netherlands and Germany.
- Restrictions on gas-powered vehicles and mandatory heat pump installations have sparked widespread protests and political shifts.
- These changes are perceived as unfairly burdening individuals rather than spreading costs across society and corporations.
Key quote:
"This has really expanded the coalition of the far right."
— Erik Voeten, professor of geopolitics at Georgetown University
Why this matters:
When people feel that changes are imposed on them without adequate consultation or consideration of their immediate concerns, there's a risk they will reject not just the specific policies but also the parties that promote them.
Far-right parties have capitalized on this discontent by framing green policies as elitist and disconnected from the common man's immediate economic concerns, promising to roll them back in favor of short-term economic relief.
Does the U.S. have its own far-right problem? Peter Dykstra argued last year that the Supreme Court has taken a brazen anti-regulatory turn. It’s our planet and health that will suffer.
