CIGA PUBLICATIONS / GEOPOLITICAL COMPASS

The Coronavirus Is Exposing Populists’ Hollow Politics

Publication Dossier

GEOPOLITICAL COMPASS
Author(s)
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Carisa Nietsche
Date / Place
April 16, 2020, U.S.A.
Type of Literature
Report
Word Count / Number of Pages
1506
Keywords
Populist, Migration Crises, European Union, Xenophobia

The Brief

As the world unites to fight against Novel Covid-19, meanwhile some of the European Political parties are singing hate songs. This article captures the rise of the hollow populist wave in Italy. Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party, was commended by his fellow parliamentarians after his xenophobic speech. Matteo vilifies migrants for the Covid-19 outbreak, henceforward suggesting the closure of Italy’s borders to foreigners. The rise of far-right populism is not only shuddering the pillars of Italy’s traditional politics but is also raising questions on the EU’s claims of a shared identify. Despite its huge failure in the crises, populists have long benefitted from nationalists’ vote. As Covid-19 is perplexing the landscape of Europe, the author is of the view that the future of the current strain of populism is through. He further says that these populists are fed on crises situations only; they are now seizing the opportunity of the disproportionality effect on the masses. The trends suggest that the emerging generation of populists will exploit nationalism, as nationalist parties are gaining in polls ahead of centrist parties. Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Brothers of Italy (even more right than the far-right League party) has accused the EU for profiting off Italy’s complications by aiming to purchase the country’s strategic assets. Many EU leaders warned populists to abstain from creating drift in the EU. The author believes that the ongoing premature move of populists may give space to liberal democracy.