European Politics

Prime Minister Dick Schoof called fresh elections following the first collapse of his government, which would go on to fall a second time within a few months. More

An expert in public policy asks if it will ever be possible for political parties in Europe to be honest about the limits of growth – and still get elected. More

As the EU crafts responses to Washington’s agendas on defence and trade, it might look to Warsaw for inspiration. More

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, US.

Will Oliver/EPA-EFE

David Jeffery, University of Liverpool

The evidence suggests traditional parties that ape the populist radical right’s policies risk boosting their rivals instead of reclaiming voters.

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Vera Trappmann, University of Leeds and Felix Schulz, Lund University

The environment is less of a priority to German voters than it used to be.

Shutterstock/gopixa

Francesco Grillo, Bocconi University

The European Union has locked itself into a rigid structure instead of adapting to survive.

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders arrives at a meeting of Patriots for Europe in Brussels.

EPA/Olivier Matthys

Rui Silva, University of East Anglia

People who are dissatisfied with their lives are more likely to turn away from mainstream political parties.

We’re gonna need a bigger acronym.

Mike Hutchings/AFP via Getty Images)

Jorge Heine, Boston University

NATO member Turkey’s intention to join the 9-member body that functions as an alternative to the Western-led order shows Ankara’s global ambitions.

Dariusz Matecki, a conservative lawmaker in the Polish Parliament, displays a poster showing a fetus during a vote on abortion on April 12, 2024.

AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

Patrice McMahon, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Many Poles were outraged by abortion restrictions put in place during the previous government. That doesn’t mean they agree on the path forward.

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s shooting sent shock waves through Slovakia.

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Alexandria Wilson-McDonald, American University School of International Service

The shooting of Robert Fico was ‘politically motivated,’ authorities say.

EPA/Olivier Hoslet

Richard Youngs, University of Warwick

Ad-hoc responses to the situation in Ukraine don’t amount to a coherent vision.

Henri Lajarrige Lombard / Unsplash

Pierre Bréchon, Auteurs historiques The Conversation France

The French have an ambivalent relationship to the European Union, expressing a strong feeling of European belonging on the one hand, and Euroscepticism toward institutions on the other.

People in Hamburg, Germany, protest against right-wing extremism and the AfD party on Feb. 25, 2024.

Hami Roshan/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Julie VanDusky, Boise State University

Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany are taking to the streets to push back against the far-right, nationalist policies of the AfD, which currently holds 11% of the seats in parliament.

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Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath and Alex Yates, University of Bath

Extremists benefit when we use euphemisms that confer on them an air of legitimacy.

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Dorje C. Brody, University of Surrey

In an uncertain world our natural instinct is to seek out answers that reassure, even when they don’t make sense.

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Marina Costa Lobo, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (FMSH)

The Treaty of Lisbon celebrates its 15th anniversary on 13 December. Looking back, experts agree that it played a big part in structuring the EU as we know it. It reinforced the role of Commission President…

EPA/Robin Utrecht

Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath

Extremists are not ‘capturing’ our systems – they are part of them.

Unsplash/Jon Tyson

Stefan Müller, University College Dublin and Sven-Oliver Proksch, University of Cologne

Nationalist parties are the most likely to be found dreaming of a glorious past in their campaign literature, especially in central and eastern Europe.

French citizens celebrate Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the country’s 2017 presidential elections.

Lorie Shaull/Flickr

Emmanuel Destenay, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Leighton Walter Kille, The Conversation France

Opposition forces in France are using the president’s unpopularity to push for a new constitution. It’s a dangerous game.

Shutterstock/Federico Cappone

Ilaria Scaglia, Aston University

For the Italian president, the region is where his nation’s constitution was born.

The stage of the 67th annual Eurovision Song Contest at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Adam Vaughan/EPA Images

Lara Maleen Kipp, Aberystwyth University

2023 sees the UK host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. But what role does the stage itself have to play in the musical spectacle?

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Mathias Bernard, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA)

Far from an exception, 16 March marked the 100th time under the Fifth Republic that France’s president chose to use a special constitutional measure to force through unpopular measures.

Ettore Ferrari / EPA-EFE

Vincenzo Galasso, Bocconi University

Italy’s next prime minister promises a lot on the campaign trail but the reality of government will prove a shock.

Sweden Democrats Jimmie Akesson celebrates on election night.

EPA/Maja Suslin

Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, Lund University

The Sweden Democrats have become the second largest party nationally, making it harder to argue against including them in government.

Mario Draghi has resigned after his unity party lost its unity.

Fabio Frustaci / EPA-EFE

Vincenzo Galasso, Bocconi University

The latest political chaos in Italy is the result of a series of political manoeuvres by varying parties.

Celebration at the Budapest pride march in 2018, years before Hungary adopted its ‘paedophile law’.

Marton Monus / EPA-EFE

Koen Slootmaeckers, City St George’s, University of London

The EU commission is taking legal action against Hungary may not be a sure win for LGBT rights in Europe.

Mario Draghi: prime minister of a unity government in disunity.

Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Carol Mershon, University of Virginia

The Italian parliament has been dissolved following the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi. What happens next, and why is Italy’s politics so fragmented?

Lukas Coch/AAP

Adam Simpson, University of South Australia

The new prime minister seems to have the temperament that would favour a collaborative approach. He could usher in a golden era of stable government, with more generous and compassionate politics. More

The evidence suggests traditional parties that ape the populist radical right’s policies risk boosting their rivals instead of reclaiming voters. More

The environment is less of a priority to German voters than it used to be. More

The European Union has locked itself into a rigid structure instead of adapting to survive. More

People who are dissatisfied with their lives are more likely to turn away from mainstream political parties. More