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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe right's display of Schadenfreude towards liberal Europeans in the refugee crisis.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban doesnt give a hoot about the refugees. Hes using them for his own purposes to stir nationalist sentiments and historic hatred of Muslims Hungary was under the Turkish rule for some 150 years until 1699. The Hungarians respond well to Orbans belligerent nationalist rhetoric. His government has an overwhelming majority in parliament. An even more rabid party, Jobbik whose platform revolves around a promise to kick the countrys sizable Roma minority out is also quite popular.
In other countries with right-wing governments, the sentiment is depressingly similar. For instance in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin is enjoying an 86% support rating and seems set to rule for life. Or, more surprisingly, in Israel, where the Likuds own Benjamin Netanyahu also looks like a lifelong leader.
In both countries, there has been undisguised display of Schadenfreude. Now those liberal Europeans, who have always counseled us so generously to behave better, will be hoisted on their own petards.
In this view, the Europeans will be overwhelmed by the ignorant and vicious Muslim hordes, theyll suffer from terrorist attacks by jihadists, theyll knock on Russias door begging it to let them move to Siberia, theyll study Israels experience on how to keep those Muslims "in their place", etc.
http://www.theglobalist.com/visions-of-orwell-in-the-refugee-crisis/
Europe's right does seem to be benefitting from the refugee crisis and undoubtedly does enjoy watching liberal Europe try to deal with the largest flow of refugees since WWII.
Of course the right seems to benefit anytime there any problems in Europe or here. They thrive on, play up and hope for more economic and social difficulties for their societies so that people will look to them as a viable alternative. And it often works. Economic catastrophe in Greece has increased the popularity of Golden Dawn. The Charlie Hebdo attack plays into the hands of the French National Front.
As with domestic American politics, the question arises as to what liberals should do. Do we work to improve the planning and implementation of liberal policies in a complicated world? Or do we adopt the policies that the right promotes (often easy to express and understand - build a wall or kick/keep them all out) in order to keep the right from winning elections? I know which I prefer.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Which is not the case.
We have been prone to make that error ourselves, now and then.
Actually it's a long list.
But anyway, that refugee crisis is going to be everybodies problem, you can put money on that, nobody is walking away.
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)most of the refugees. The countries who went to war with us in Iraq would be taking in the rest.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)The RW nationalists are quickly and steadily gaining power in europe, and it is fairly easy to understand why.