How To Beat National Populism

Brexit and the removal of Donald Trump from U.S. politics have not halted the rise of right-wing populism, as evidenced by recent elections in Italy and Sweden. In Italy, the far-right Brothers of Italy party, led by Giorgia Meloni, who opposes immigration and LGBTQ rights, finished first in national elections. In Sweden, the Sweden Democrats, a formerly fringe party with neo-Nazi roots, secured a strong second-place finish, capitalizing on public backlash against the country’s historic receptivity to refugees and asylum seekers.

Mainstream conservative parties have, in some cases, overcome their reservations and joined governing coalitions with xenophobic parties. The article points out instances in the UK, where the Conservatives incorporated nativist themes to win the Brexit-supporting vote, and in the U.S., where Democrats are grappling with the challenge of retaining working-class voters.

The piece highlights the efforts of the Labour Party in the UK to reassess its strategy under the leadership of Keir Starmer, who has distanced the party from hard-left ideologies. The Tories’ recent announcement of tax cuts for companies and individuals has stirred economic concerns, creating an opportunity for Labour to present itself as a party committed to fiscal responsibility and economic growth.