Where Donald Trump leads, europe’s nationalists and far right follow. After a Truth Social post last month, when Trump announced the US would designate antifa, the decentralised anti-fascist movement, “a major terrorist organisation”, his international allies swung into action.
That same day, the Dutch parliament, where the largest party is Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV, passed a resolution, noting the US decision and calling on the government to declare antifa a terrorist organisation in the Netherlands.
Then the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán – more usually a source of inspiration for Trump – said his country would follow suit. Next, in the European parliament, a far-right MEP from the Flemish nationalist Vlaams belang party drafted a resolution with the same request. Tom Vandendriessche announced last week that 79 MEPs from 20 countries supported his proposed text. In a video posted on X with ominous music playing, he described antifa as “an international network that is supported, financed and protected by the system to fight the nationalist opposition with violence”.
Related: Trump signs order designating antifa as a ‘domestic terrorist institution’
Experts characterise antifa rather differently, instead describing it as a loose identity movement with neither leaders nor membership structure.While it has origins in Europe, it gained attention in the US after Trump’s election in 2016.
“Antifa is not what I would call an identifiable group or organisation [but] a movement, perhaps,” Jessica White, acting director of terrorism and conflict studies at the Royal United Services Institute, told the Guardian.
“On the basis of that lack of clear definition, I think it’s very challenging, if not counterproductive, to try and designate it,” she added. The security services, she said, would see “the least amount of value” in such a designation, as “usually what I’ve seen is that it is much easier to reach a verdict and a prosecution based upon focusing on the actual acts of violence.”
She added: “I think there’s probably a very justified sense of fear around how it could be used in a politically motivated way to target people that are seen as opponents to a more rightwing political government.”
The Hungari
Trump’s culture War Extends to Europe, Fueled by Focus on Antifa
Table of Contents
Recent political developments in Europe, particularly the criminalization of anti-fascist groups, echo a culture war strategy popularized by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This trend, according to experts, is not coincidental but part of a purposeful effort to export ideological battles and undermine European leadership.The focus on groups like antifa serves as a key component in this transatlantic ideological alignment,uniting Trump and his European allies.
The Criminalization of Antifa and the Far-Right Response
The criminalization of antifa groups is gaining traction in several European countries.Martin Schirdewan, co-leader of The Left group in the European Parliament – a coalition including Germany’s Die Linke, France Unbowed, and parties from other nations – has criticized this trend, arguing it “simply plays the tune of the far right” and restricts freedom of opinion, ultimately posing “an attack on democracy itself.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/13/germany-investigates-antifa-groups-after-attacks-on-afd-members
this focus on antifa aligns with a broader strategy of identifying and demonizing political opponents, a tactic frequently employed by Trump during his presidency.
Trump as an Inspiration for Europe’s New Right
Pawel Zerka, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, highlights trump’s notable influence on the new right in Europe.Zerka argues that these groups are actively emulating trump’s “culture war” tactics within their own countries. https://ecfr.eu/publication/reality-show-why-europe-must-not-cave-in-trumps-culture-war/
Zerka’s recent report details how Trump and the U.S. MAGA movement are actively waging a culture war on Europe through several key mechanisms:
* Promoting Ideological Allies: aggressively supporting and bolstering right-wing and nationalist figures across the continent.
* Humiliating European leaders: Publicly challenging and undermining the authority of European leaders on the global stage.
* Building a “MAGA Internationale”: Establishing a network of conferences, media outlets, funders, and think tanks to provide infrastructure and support for the new right.
The “Copy-Paste” of Antifa from American Political Discourse
the report emphasizes that the focus on antifa is largely “a copy-paste from the American political debate.” Zerka explains that framing antifa as a hazardous adversary serves as a powerful tool for mobilizing a political base and fostering cohesion among domestic forces. By creating a perceived enemy, right-wing groups can rally support and consolidate power.
Implications for European Politics and Democracy
The transatlantic flow of this culture war poses significant challenges to European politics and democratic institutions. The polarization fueled by these tactics can erode trust in established institutions, exacerbate social divisions, and ultimately undermine the foundations of liberal democracy. Leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and France’s Marine Le Pen are increasingly benefiting from this habitat,gaining credibility and support through alignment with Trump’s rhetoric and strategies.
looking Ahead
The increasing influence of Trump-inspired culture war tactics in Europe demands a proactive response from European leaders and institutions. Strengthening democratic resilience, promoting media literacy, and countering disinformation are crucial steps in mitigating the negative consequences of this transatlantic ideological battle. Failure to address this challenge could lead to further polarization,erosion of democratic values,and a reshaping of the European political landscape along increasingly nationalistic and authoritarian lines.