Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Guideline for Country Reports

Berlin, 31st May 2007 Britta Schellenberg

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 2

Goals of the project

Goal I:

Gathering expertise

about structure of right wing extremism and dealing with right wing extremism in Europe.

Goal II:

Identifying political mechanisms that impact right-wing extremism at various levels of governance (legal order, political actors and institutions, civic society, media)

Goal III:

Policy recommendations and strategies for Germany (regional and national level)

policy recommendations and strategies at the European level.

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 3

Countries

1. Austria

2. Belgium

3. Denmark

4. France

5. Hungary

6. Italy

7. Netherlands

8. Sweden

9. Switzerland

10.United Kingdom

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 4

Criterions for the selection of Countries

Basic Criteria

Consolidated Democracy

Sufficient Quality of Research

Specific Criteria

Structure of Right-wing Extremism (party strength - movement strength)

Attitudes towards Minorities

Immigration Policies

EU 27-Perspective

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 5

Criterion: Structure of right-wing extremism

Party strength Movement strength Austria High Low France High Low Italy High Low Belgium High-Medium Medium Denmark High-Medium Medium Switzerland Medium Medium-High United Kingdom Low High Sweden Low High *Hungary * * Source: Minkenberg 2007

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 6

Criterion: Immigration Policy

Restrictive Moderate Open Austria Denmark,

Switzerland Italy Belgium,

Great Britain

France Sweden

Netherland

Source: Minkenberg 2004

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 7

Structures: Differences in opinions about minorities

Country intolerant ambivalent Passively tolerant

Actively tolerant

Belgium 25 28 26 22 Denmark 20 17 31 33 Italy 11 21 54 15 France 19 26 31 25 Netherlands 11 25 34 31 United Kingdom

15 27 36 22

Sweden 9 15 43 33 Austria 12 30 37 20 *Switzerland *Hungary EU 15 14 25 39 21 Source: Minkenberg 2007 / EUMC 2001

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 8

Defining ‚right-wing extremism‘ (according to Minkenberg 1998)

by constructing national affiliations, intensifies specific ethnic, cultural or religious criteria of exclusion, creating a collective belief of homogeneity and tying these with authoritarian models of politics.

is directed against liberal democracy and its basic values like freedom and equality as well as individualism and universalism.

Political ideology or thinking that

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 9

Core of the Guideline

Structure

of right-wing extremism

Protective mechanisms of democracy

-

‚Strategies‘

against right-wing extremism

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 10

Structure of the Guideline

A. Overview: Demographic Profile 2 pages

B.Structure of right-wing extremism

I. Actors

II. Strategies

III. Socio-political environment 17 pages

C.‚Strategies‘ against right-wing extremism

I. Legal order

II. Political actors and institutions

III. Civil society

IV. Media 30 pages

D. Annex: Current state of data concerning right-wing extremism 1 page

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 11

Structure of right-wing extremism

I. Actors

1. Main traits

2. Leverage

3. Perspectives

II. Strategies of right-wing extremists in the public sphere

1. Approaches

2. Effectiveness

§ Perspectives

III. Socio-political environment

1. Political culture/civil culture

2. Attitudes

3. Perspectives

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

31. Mai 2007

Strategies to Combat Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Seite 12

Protective mechanisms of democracy -‚Strategies‘ against right-wing extremism

I. Legal order

1. Norms and developments

2. Effectiveness

3. Good practice and strategic outlook

II. Political actors and institutions

1. Institutional responsibilities

2. Political interaction with right-wing extremism

3. Specific measures taken by political actors

4. Good practice and strategic outlook

III. Civil society

1. Organizations and civic engagement

2. Activities

3. Good practice and strategic outlook

IV. Media

1. General coverage of right-wing extremism

2. Specific measures against right-wing extremism

3. Good practice and strategic outlook

Guideline for Country Reports

Centre for Applied Policy Research

Thank you for your attention!

Berlin, 31st May 2007 Britta Schellenberg

Centre for Applied Policy Research