The Rise of Populism in Europe

Georg Menz, Ph.D., Old Dominion University, January 26 2019

Mass migration, and the problems associated with it, have directly abetted the rise of populist
parties in Europe. Opposition to immigration was the prime driver of support for Brexit, it brought
a far-right party to the German Bundestag for the first time since the 1950s, and propelled Marine
Le Pen to win a third of the vote in the French presidential election.

In addition to calling for stronger borders, however, these parties are invariably illiberal, anti-American, anti-NATO and
pro-Kremlin, making their rise a matter of serious concern for the national security interests of the
United States.