The consequences of an increasingly "respectable" far-right in Europe.

[pampango]

http://www.businessinsider.com/consequences-of-a-moderated-far-right-in-europe-2011-7

Breivik's stated motive—to counter policies by the Norwegian Labor Party that favor multiculturalism—has prompted debate over whether the attack is a result of an anti-immigrant atmosphere that has permeated the Continent over the past decade and has intensified since the 2008-2009 recession Europe's turn toward anti-immigrant policies is not surprising and was forecast by STRATFOR three years ago.

These tensions are exacerbated during times of economic pain, when anti-immigrant rhetoric becomes fair game for both center-right and center-left parties. The post-2008 economic crisis has played out largely the same way.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric has entered the mainstream. In many ways this is the result of the rise in popularity of parties from the far right of the political spectrum.

As such, established political parties, especially the center-right parties most afraid of losing votes to the far right, have sought to adopt anti-multiculturalism rhetoric as their own. Furthermore, anti-immigrant rhetoric can be used to distract Europe's populations from necessary budget cuts and austerity measures.