The EU's Struggle with Identity: A Shift Towards Xenophobia and Ethnic Nationalism?

[Social Media]

 

A recent report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) warns that the European Union (EU) is increasingly adopting a more closed and ethnocentric understanding of “Europeanness,” a shift that could threaten the very fabric of the European project. This shift towards xenophobia, bolstered by rising far-right political influence and declining youth engagement, challenges the EU’s foundational values of universalism, equality, and secularism.

 

The report, shared exclusively with *The Guardian*, identifies three core blind spots across the bloc: the overwhelming “whiteness” of EU politics, low engagement from younger voters, and a lukewarm pro-Europeanism in central and eastern Europe. These elements, the report argues, are converging to produce a more ethnic and exclusionary sentiment in the EU, risking the erosion of the bloc’s core principles.

 

Pawel Zerka, the report’s author and a senior ECFR policy fellow, states, “If the economy is the EU’s engine, then ‘European sentiment’ should be seen as its fuel. And what is currently happening to European sentiment requires urgent attention – otherwise we risk running out of fuel, or running on dirty fuel.” This “European sentiment,” according to Zerka, embodies the sense of belonging to a shared future and common values. Yet, these values are being questioned, especially in light of rising xenophobia and the EU’s apparent lack of diversity.

 

While there is evidence of continued trust in the EU across its member states—evidenced by a 51% voter turnout in this year’s European Parliament elections—there are growing signs of dissatisfaction. Many feel excluded or disconnected, particularly people of color, Muslims, and young voters. The report highlights how Muslims have been alienated, especially following a surge of xenophobic rhetoric after the Hamas attack on Israel in October. Far-right political victories in France, Italy, Belgium, and Hungary have amplified anti-immigration and anti-Muslim sentiments across the continent, further stoking the flames of exclusionary politics.

 

The report also points to the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities within EU institutions, noting that only 3% of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) come from these groups, despite making up 10% of the EU population. This lack of diversity, when compared to more inclusive arenas like the Eurovision Song Contest or European sports, underscores the EU’s struggle to reflect the demographics of its citizens.

 

In central and eastern Europe, pro-European sentiment is waning. Voter turnout in EU elections in this region remains low, with Euroscepticism on the rise in countries like Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Croatia. Similarly, although younger voters are typically more tolerant and pro-EU, they are increasingly disillusioned with mainstream politics, often turning to radical right or left-wing parties, further complicating the EU's future.

 

Zerka’s report, titled *Welcome to Barbieland*, draws a parallel between the EU’s idealized vision and the harsher reality that is emerging. The report warns that the EU’s identity could shift towards a more ethnic-based conception of Europe, in which xenophobia flourishes unchecked. To counter this, the report urges political parties to diversify their voting bases, engage young people more actively, and resist the temptation to remain silent on issues like migration and diversity.

Ultimately, the EU must take decisive action to reclaim its founding values, or it risks either a collapse of its sentiment entirely or, worse, seeing that sentiment survive only in a closed and xenophobic form.

 

Based on a report from: The Guardian 2024-09-27

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

Typical Guardian pearl clutching. 

 

Right wing parties are gaining ground because of the complete failures of the left on immigration, resulting in some European cities now resembling a more violent version of skid row. 

 

Murray predicted this. Nobody listened. They made their bed, now they have to lie in it. 

 

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

European public opinion is moving away from accepting the European Community mantras on open borders and what was previously effectively unrestricted mass immigration, particularly of young single men.

 

I do rather suspect that may not be entirely unconnected with the habit of bombings, massacre attacks and public executions of teachers (Samuel Party) and those who may not uphold their values (Theo van Gogh) as witnessed in France and The Netherlands. France and it's young people may be a determinedly secular society, but they don't hold with burning churches and butchering elderly priests at the altars whilst saying Mass. Across the continent there is growing opposition to the widespread rape which accompanies these gangs of young men ( they do like their young white women).

 

The European Union should take heed of these views amongst their populations, rather than brand them as misguided and xenophobic. 

Edited 11 hours ago by herfiehandbag

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The report, shared exclusively with *The Guardian*, identifies three core blind spots across the bloc: the overwhelming “whiteness” of EU politics, low engagement from younger voters, and a lukewarm pro-Europeanism in central and eastern Europe.

 

Lukewarm Pro-Europeanism? 😄😃

 

They can't stand the EU. With good reason. 

 

The EU is on thin ice. Very thin ice. Either they accept the public mood and act upon it, or they just label them bigots and xenophobes, put their fingers in their ears and continue on the same path. I suspect it will be the latter, and that could well start the crumbling of the house of cards.  

 

Which would be a terrible shame .

[roquefort]

"the European Union (EU) is increasingly adopting a more closed and ethnocentric understanding of “Europeanness,”

 

What the EU doesn't understand is that to preserve Europeanness you have to keep Europe European (Viktor Orban gets it).

[fvw53]

It looks as if in the EU the pendulum of history is switching back to the situation of the 1930ies ....it was a Europe of totally indepentent nations (cfr to Brexit in the UK) whereby every nation took care of itself ....In contrast came the period after World War II whereby in Europe first the French and the Germans and then others got the pendulum swinging to cooperation and integration in what is now the EU with a gigantic bureaucry.

[JonnyF]

13 minutes ago, fvw53 said:

It looks as if in the EU the pendulum of history is switching back to the situation of the 1930ies ....it was a Europe of totally indepentent nations (cfr to Brexit in the UK) whereby every nation took care of itself ....In contrast came the period after World War II whereby in Europe first the French and the Germans and then others got the pendulum swinging to cooperation and integration in what is now the EU with a gigantic bureaucry.

 

You don't need the EU to facilitate co-operation and trade between European nations.

 

You could easily just have something like, oh I don't know, a common market (that rings a bell). No need for a federalist project like the EU.

[koolkarl]

Islamophobia I can understand as they have a long term terrible goal.  If you think the EU is bad, take a look at Canada.  I was recently in Yorkdale shopping center in Toronto, the biggest one, and I had to look hard to see a Caucasian.  Mosques everywhere.

[Cameroni]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

and a lukewarm pro-Europeanism in central and eastern Europe

 

Eastern Europe may well be the grave for the EU. The Ukrainians, a greenlighted EU candidate, has managed to involve the EU in a  costly war.

 

For decades East European countries have pocketed massive EU monies, especially Poland, and in return done nothing but obstruct EU policies.

 

The voting in the EU parliament has become a near impossibility thanks to vetos held by East European countries.

 

It was the biggest mistake ever to expand to Eastern Europe. There should be a forced BREXIT for all Eastern European countries, nothing but freeloaders and dead weights for the EU.

 

A half of Britain would be better than all of Eastern Europe.

Edited 6 hours ago by Cameroni

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Guys I'm really worried about Chomper it's been 11 hours and he's not in this thread yet.  Can someone call the police to go to his house and do a welfare check to make sure he's all right?

[JonnyF]

32 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

A half of Britain would be better than all of Eastern Europe.

 

That's true. But they over-reached massively.

 

They wanted to expand their federalist project by including eastern european countries, and they wanted the wealthy western European nation states to pay for it. Now Britain has given them the finger, and Germany is in economic trouble.

 

In my opinion, the breakup of the EU will be in full swing within the next decade. But it will be long and painful. Britain will be counting it's lucky stars it got out when it did and thanking Brexit voters for their vision. 

[Cameroni]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

That's true. But they over-reached massively.

 

They wanted to expand their federalist project by including eastern european countries, and they wanted the wealthy western European nation states to pay for it. Now Britain has given them the finger, and Germany is in economic trouble.

 

In my opinion, the breakup of the EU will be in full swing within the next decade. But it will be long and painful. Britain will be counting it's lucky stars it got out when it did and thanking Brexit voters for their vision. 

 

Britain was vital to the EU, an oasis of common sense, in an expanse of fanatics and ideologues.

 

Without Britain I have no doubt the EU will self destruct, not because the British economy was vital, but British common sense and vision was a vital ingredient.

 

Anything that can't grow anymore will decay and die. The EU can't grow anymore. It will die. Already Germany has re-instituted borders.

 

However, the Euro will most likely stay, hard to see countries adopting their own currencies again.

 

Germany's economic troubles are more due to self-sabotage, by simply diabolically incompetent politicians, in particular the failed energy policy. But in any event I don't trust an EU that squanders its tax payer monies on building infrastrucure for people that hate us. That's just plain stupid.

 

[roquefort]

"Anything that can't grow anymore will decay and die. The EU can't grow anymore. It will die."

 

The ultimate goal of any bureaucracy is expansion of its own power. The EU seems to have reached 'peak power grab', any new attempts to extends its tentacles will be rebuffed by member states.

 

I don't think it will die,  It will ensure its own survival in a different form. Perhaps, as suggested above, we might even go back to a common market!

 

 

[daveAustin]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Yet, these values are being questioned, especially in light of rising xenophobia and the EU’s apparent lack of diversity.

Two contrasts right there. Things are getting xenophobic among existing populace because of OTT immigration > dilution of culture, while on lack of diversity (certainly not on TV and in every other area of society): would these folk be up to the job? You cannot have any old person in a position of power and influence because their skin colour or religion fits a certain mould, surely?

 

The EU is a failure on many fronts. A common policy on trade, sure, brilliant idea, but shove the rest of it. And identity. What is that? There ain't one. What you have is a melting pot of millennia-old lands being shoved together and expected to see their cultures happily take on all n sundry. Eastern euro nations are rightly wary of the forced immigration thing... they look at our countries and see the utter turmoil it creates, but yes they still receive huge benefits. Britain is well out of it, and without that major net contributor and influence, it makes a difference. Ask the people (not the F politicians) in the other nations that matter -- you know, the ones that put in -- and they would also be out.

[riclag]

7 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Typical Guardian pearl clutching. 

 

Right wing parties are gaining ground because of the complete failures of the left on immigration, resulting in some European cities now resembling a more violent version of skid row. 

 

Murray predicted this. Nobody listened. They made their bed, now they have to lie in it. 

 

 

 

Please, Don’t  ever stop ringing the bells about the crisis !

 

Murray is a national treasure imop

[Cameroni]

49 minutes ago, roquefort said:

"Anything that can't grow anymore will decay and die. The EU can't grow anymore. It will die."

 

The ultimate goal of any bureaucracy is expansion of its own power. The EU seems to have reached 'peak power grab', any new attempts to extends its tentacles will be rebuffed by member states.

 

I don't think it will die,  It will ensure its own survival in a different form. Perhaps, as suggested above, we might even go back to a common market!

 

 

 

I think the British Brexit precedent will be too tempting for some who oppose the EU. Whether that's the AfD in Germany, Marine Le  Pen, that Dutch nutcase, or the Italian right, at some point someone will do another exit. For populist reasons alone.

 

 

[JonnyF]

9 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

I think the British Brexit precedent will be too tempting for some who oppose the EU. Whether that's the AfD in Germany, Marine Le  Pen, that Dutch nutcase, or the Italian right, at some point someone will do another exit. For populist reasons alone.

 

 

 

I really hope it's Germany. 

[Cameroni]

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I really hope it's Germany. 

 

Me too. 

 

But I fear the Deutsche Mark will not return.

[nauseus]

for

 

2 hours ago, fvw53 said:

It looks as if in the EU the pendulum of history is switching back to the situation of the 1930ies ....it was a Europe of totally indepentent nations (cfr to Brexit in the UK) whereby every nation took care of itself ....In contrast came the period after World War II whereby in Europe first the French and the Germans and then others got the pendulum swinging to cooperation and integration in what is now the EU with a gigantic bureaucry.

 

Well let's hope that there's not an exact carbon copy of the 1930's in Europe, either.

 

 

[nauseus]

4 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Me too. 

 

But I fear the Deutsche Mark will not return.

 

They can do it if they want to.

[Cameroni]

Just now, nauseus said:

 

They can do it if they want to.

 

Well, the Dexit is not off the cards, though I would not bet on it the next 3 years. Unfortunately the Euro is now so linked with other currencies, to return to the Deutsche Mark could be a problem. That in itself would be a hugely popular policy among voters over 40 though. If a party ran on bringing back the Deutsche Mark they would almost be certain to win. But it is not going to to happen.

[RichardColeman]

Every time I see these immigrants arriving on boats on my UK beaches I think 2 things 

 

1. Who are all these 95% black and Asian men going to breed with ? 

 

2. Why do we want these men who are running away from a war in their own country that have abandoned their women and will run off from the UK if the UK declares war on anyone ! (going by their own record)

 

I would institute a 1 male 1 female policy immediately 

 

[nauseus]

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Well, the Dexit is not off the cards, though I would not bet on it the next 3 years. Unfortunately the Euro is now so linked with other currencies, to return to the Deutsche Mark could be a problem. That in itself would be a hugely popular policy among voters over 40 though. If a party ran on bringing back the Deutsche Mark they would almost be certain to win. But it is not going to to happen.

 

If Germany quits the EU, or v.v, then Germany may need to drop the Euro and revert to the DM anway. Germany still has its Bundesbank and old DM coins or bills are still accepted for exchange (into Euros) at Bundesbank  branches today.

 

Difficult? Very.

Impossible? Don't think so.

 

 

[Middle Aged Grouch]

Europe is also destroying itself it remaining a servant of the USA and their absurd sanctions against Russia that are plumetting the EU economy. This is another reason of the shift towards extreme right from the voters. Touch the spending power of people and they shift to extremes - no rocket science.

[WDSmart]

This is also a part of Trump's vision for the USA. Hopefully, he won't get re-elected and will not have the opportunity to act on itl

[Sigmund]

Speak to the managers of your Pension Funds, should it be in the US or in Europe. They will all confirm the high yields in the portfolios during Trump's term. Like Trump or not, but for the economy, he's the best to do the job as he...he knows how to make money and not live off public money or  to live through the "commissions" got from the arms lobbys.

[Sigmund]

15 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Europe is also destroying itself it remaining a servant of the USA and their absurd sanctions against Russia that are plumetting the EU economy. This is another reason of the shift towards extreme right from the voters. Touch the spending power of people and they shift to extremes - no rocket science.

Very true as there is stong anger all over Europe against the USA due to their sanctions taken against Russia in a few days...when on the other side there are war crimes and genocide in Gaza and now in Libanon...and the USA and the EU are just pretending and looking the other way with the UN and the Security Council that is a insult and a joke to modern democracy.

[BangkokReady]

14 hours ago, Social Media said:

the overwhelming “whiteness” of EU politics

 

Sure, White majority countries need non-Whiteness artificially injected into their politics.  That should really help with xenophobia and ethnic nationalism...  🙄