Anti-European Tropes are Equivalent to Xenophobic, Racist, Anti-Semitic slurs and Considered a Direct Threat to all European Democracies and Citizens

In the contemporary political landscape, Europe faces unprecedented challenges from both internal and external forces that seek to undermine its democratic institutions, social cohesion, and economic stability. While anti-Europeanism manifests in various forms across the political spectrum, certain expressions of this sentiment have evolved into systematic campaigns that bear troubling resemblances to historical patterns of scapegoating and prejudice. Political Extremists’ anti-European rhetoric and policies function as a form of collective targeting that threatens not only European integration but also the fundamental rights and security of European citizens.

Historical Context and Parallels

Throughout history, periods of economic uncertainty and social transformation have often given rise to movements that seek simple explanations for complex problems by targeting specific groups. As the Anti-Defamation League notes, many medieval Christian stereotypes have been adapted and continue to influence contemporary forms of scapegoating. The European Union, as both an institution and a symbol of transnational cooperation, has increasingly become the focus of such targeting. Anti-European rhetoric frequently employs classic scapegoating mechanisms, attributing domestic problems to European policies, institutions, or the very concept of European identity itself. This phenomenon shares structural similarities with historical forms of group-based prejudice. Historical antisemitism often portrayed Jewish communities through contradictory stereotypes, attributing to them both excessive power and dangerous subversiveness. Similarly, contemporary anti-Europeanism often depicts European institutions as both overbearing and weak, manipulative yet ineffective. Just as medieval antisemitism involved collective blame – such as the Christian belief that Jewish people were collectively responsible for the death of Jesus – extreme anti-Europeanism constructs narratives of collective European guilt. European citizens are sometimes characterised as either privileged beneficiaries of an unfair system or victims of their own political arrangements, depending on the rhetorical needs of the moment.

The parallel becomes particularly pronounced when examining how extreme anti-European movements construct narratives of collective guilt and responsibility. Scholar research on pre-Holocaust antisemitism reveals how hatred against targeted groups reached “high-water marks” during periods of social and economic transformation in Western Christian societies. European societies are portrayed as inherently problematic, their democratic values dismissed as facades, and their citizens characterised as complicit in various alleged schemes. This systematic dehumanisation and delegitimisation follow patterns that historians recognise from previous eras of intergroup conflict.

The Rise of Authoritarian Anti-Europeanism

Contemporary anti-European movements often emerge from or align with broader authoritarian and illiberal tendencies. Research by the Journal of Democracy has identified that “Europe harbours a deep reservoir of authoritarian potential” and documented how democracy erodes, particularly from right-wing movements. These movements share several key characteristics that distinguish them from legitimate democratic criticism of European policies or institutions. Academic research on right-wing extremism has noted that since the 1980s, “right-wing extremism, radicalism, and populism have emerged as transformative forces in European politics.”

Cambridge scholars examining authoritarian governance in Central and Eastern Europe have identified deeper socio-cultural causes behind autocratization, noting the influence of what historian Zeev Sternhell called “a European anti-Enlightenment tradition” that “formed the substantial background of fascism of the early twentieth century, and is still somehow part of European societies and their politics.” This intellectual tradition continues to influence contemporary anti-democratic movements.

First, these movements reject pluralism and compromise, viewing politics as a zero-sum struggle between virtuous “natives” and corrupt “others.” European integration, in this worldview, represents not a democratic choice but a form of occupation or betrayal. Second, they typically embrace conspiracy theories that portray European institutions as part of vast, coordinated schemes to undermine national sovereignty or cultural identity. Research has shown how such theories serve to justify increasingly extreme rhetoric and policies while immunising believers against contradictory evidence. Third, authoritarian anti-European movements often exhibit profound contempt for democratic norms and institutions. Academic studies have documented “right-wing authoritarian innovations in Central and Eastern Europe” where movements participate in electoral processes while simultaneously working to undermine the legitimacy of elections, independent media, civil society organisations, and other pillars of democratic governance. European Union membership, with its requirements for the rule of law and democratic accountability, becomes an obstacle to be overcome rather than a framework for cooperation.

Economic Extraction and Predatory Relationships

Many anti-European movements, particularly those supported by external authoritarian regimes, engage in what can be characterised as economic and political extraction. While publicly denouncing European “interference” or “domination,” these actors often simultaneously seek to benefit from European markets, investment, and aid programs. This creates a fundamentally predatory relationship wherein European resources are exploited while European values and institutions are undermined. This pattern is evident in various contexts where authoritarian governments or movements maintain extensive economic ties with European partners while conducting systematic campaigns to weaken European unity and democratic governance. European openness, transparency, and commitment to the rule of law make European societies particularly vulnerable to such exploitation. Democratic systems, by their very nature, provide space for dissent and criticism that can be weaponised by those who do not share democratic values.

The extraction is not merely economic but also political and social. Anti-European movements often seek to export their authoritarian models and undermine democratic norms within European societies themselves. They exploit European commitments to free speech and political pluralism to spread anti-democratic propaganda while simultaneously restricting such freedoms in their own territories.

Threats to European Citizens

The ultimate victims of extreme anti-Europeanism are ordinary European citizens who find their rights, security, and prosperity threatened by movements that view European cooperation as inherently illegitimate. Anti-European campaigns often involve efforts to isolate European countries from each other, weaken collective defence mechanisms, and undermine shared institutions that protect citizen rights. This threat manifests in multiple ways. Economically, anti-European policies can disrupt trade relationships, reduce investment flows, and create unnecessary barriers to prosperity. Politically, they can weaken democratic institutions and empower authoritarian tendencies within European societies. Socially, they can increase polarisation, undermine social cohesion, and create environments where minority rights and civil liberties are threatened. Perhaps most seriously, extreme anti-Europeanism can contribute to the conditions that make armed conflict more likely. By delegitimising international cooperation, undermining collective security arrangements, and portraying neighbouring peoples as existential threats, these movements erode the foundations of peaceful coexistence that Europe has built over decades.

The Security Dimension

From a security perspective, systematic anti-Europeanism poses significant challenges to regional stability and international peace. Freedom House has documented how “the enemies of liberal democracy—a form of self-government in which human rights are recognised and every individual is entitled to equal treatment under law—are accelerating their attacks” globally. When political movements or state actors adopt fundamentally hostile attitudes toward European integration and cooperation, they create conditions that favour conflict over dialogue and confrontation over compromise. Research by the Transnational Institute has shown how responses to crises can involve “a combination of austerity and authoritarianism that increased precarity and eroded liberal democracy.” This is particularly dangerous in a context where Europe faces various external security challenges that require coordinated responses. Anti-European rhetoric and policies can serve as cover for more direct forms of aggression, as documented by academic studies showing how contemporary movements exploit European democratic openness. Anti-European rhetoric and policies can also serve as cover for more direct forms of aggression. By portraying European institutions as illegitimate or European societies as fundamentally flawed, authoritarian actors can justify various forms of interference, manipulation, and even direct attack. European commitment to democratic values and peaceful resolution of disputes can be exploited by those who do not share these commitments.

While legitimate criticism of European policies and institutions is both necessary and healthy in a democratic society, extreme anti-Europeanism represents a qualitatively different phenomenon that poses serious threats to peace, prosperity, and human rights. When political movements or state actors adopt systematically hostile attitudes toward European cooperation and democratic values, they contribute to conditions that favour authoritarianism over democracy and conflict over peace. The international community must recognise that extreme anti-Europeanism, particularly when it involves external manipulation or support for authoritarian movements within European societies, represents a form of aggression against democratic governance and human rights. Just as the international community has developed frameworks for addressing other forms of systematic prejudice and aggression, it must also develop appropriate responses to movements and actors that seek to undermine European democracy and threaten European citizens. This does not mean suppressing legitimate debate about European policies or institutions. Rather, it means recognising that some forms of anti-European activity cross the line from political criticism into systematic campaigns designed to undermine democratic governance and threaten citizen welfare. By acknowledging these threats clearly and responding appropriately, European societies can better protect their democratic values while remaining open to constructive dialogue and reform.

Bibliography and Sources:

Academic & Historical Sources

Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal, 1950