Europe's Biggest Threat Isn't Trump, But His Ideological Revolution
A growing sense of unease has gripped European governments as they grapple with the implications of Donald Trump's presidency. The threats to trade, Greenland, and NATO have become a major concern for many. However, experts warn that the real threat facing Europe is not an invasion by Trump or his allies, but rather the ideological revolution he represents.
At its core, Trump's "second American revolution" has taken on a life of its own, with a network of like-minded politicians and intellectuals spreading its influence across Europe. The US National Security Strategy published last year has been hailed as a clarion call for patriotic European parties to strengthen their ties with each other.
But what exactly is this movement all about? In reality, it's not about nostalgia or reaction; rather, it's a forward-thinking phenomenon that has tapped into the frustrations of many Europeans. The "new right" β a label coined by Mark Leonard, director of the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations β claims that liberalism has failed and that citizens have been battered by an unbroken sequence of shocks.
From the global financial crash to the Covid pandemic, each crisis has exposed the limits of liberal governance, fueling suspicion about whose interests governments were really serving. The movement's proponents argue that mainstream parties have failed to address these issues and have instead shielded elites while ordinary people bear the brunt of the consequences.
This ideology has resonated with some voters, particularly those who feel they've lost out in the face of globalization. The new right has crafted a clear policy agenda that appeals to working-class voters, promising to restore national identity, rebuild domestic production, and strip away institutional resistance.
But how do we counter this force? The answer lies in acknowledging the strength of the new right's critique of liberalism while developing a political project that speaks to working-class concerns. A fresh approach is needed, one that leverages new methods of engagement and addresses the vulnerabilities exposed by Trump's revolution.
The European Council on Foreign Relations has already begun to grasp this reality, with polling suggesting that clear majorities now see Trump's re-election as harmful. If centrist forces wake up to this threat and rally around a strategy that turns the new right's strengths into weaknesses, there is still hope for the political centre to reinvent itself.
The question remains: can Europe find a way to counter this ideological revolution before it's too late?
A growing sense of unease has gripped European governments as they grapple with the implications of Donald Trump's presidency. The threats to trade, Greenland, and NATO have become a major concern for many. However, experts warn that the real threat facing Europe is not an invasion by Trump or his allies, but rather the ideological revolution he represents.
At its core, Trump's "second American revolution" has taken on a life of its own, with a network of like-minded politicians and intellectuals spreading its influence across Europe. The US National Security Strategy published last year has been hailed as a clarion call for patriotic European parties to strengthen their ties with each other.
But what exactly is this movement all about? In reality, it's not about nostalgia or reaction; rather, it's a forward-thinking phenomenon that has tapped into the frustrations of many Europeans. The "new right" β a label coined by Mark Leonard, director of the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations β claims that liberalism has failed and that citizens have been battered by an unbroken sequence of shocks.
From the global financial crash to the Covid pandemic, each crisis has exposed the limits of liberal governance, fueling suspicion about whose interests governments were really serving. The movement's proponents argue that mainstream parties have failed to address these issues and have instead shielded elites while ordinary people bear the brunt of the consequences.
This ideology has resonated with some voters, particularly those who feel they've lost out in the face of globalization. The new right has crafted a clear policy agenda that appeals to working-class voters, promising to restore national identity, rebuild domestic production, and strip away institutional resistance.
But how do we counter this force? The answer lies in acknowledging the strength of the new right's critique of liberalism while developing a political project that speaks to working-class concerns. A fresh approach is needed, one that leverages new methods of engagement and addresses the vulnerabilities exposed by Trump's revolution.
The European Council on Foreign Relations has already begun to grasp this reality, with polling suggesting that clear majorities now see Trump's re-election as harmful. If centrist forces wake up to this threat and rally around a strategy that turns the new right's strengths into weaknesses, there is still hope for the political centre to reinvent itself.
The question remains: can Europe find a way to counter this ideological revolution before it's too late?