Flase alarm? Populism as a challenge to solidarity in eu policy towards Russia
https://doi.org/10.17994/IT.2021.19.4.67.8
Abstract
Being a large-scale internal challenge to the European integration project, the growth of populism in the EU has a projection on the foreign policy of both national states and the European Union. A Russian vector of the EU’s policy is a domain where the deviation of populist programs and strategies from the positions of the mainstream parties is most evident. In this regard, it is crucial to understand how the foreign policy orientations of European populists affect the most important principle and value of the EU – solidarity, in particular, in the EU's foreign policy towards Russia. Using an ideological approach to understanding populism and a comparative analysis of the foreign policy programs of populist actors in Germany, United Kingdom and Hungary, the article concludes that the deviations of right-wing populist parties (AfD, UKIP, Fidesz) and left-wing populist ("Left") are expressed in different ways, degrees and suggest different accents: the “strategic alliance” towards Russia among in the cases of AfD and the “Left”; pragmatic pro-Russian attitude in the case of Fidesz, ambivalent attitude in the case of UKIP. Despite the predominantly pro-Russian rhetoric, populism in power and in the opposition does not have the capacity to dismantle solidarity and the European consensus in the EU's foreign policy towards Russia. The nature of populism as an ideology and the instrumental use by left and right populists of the "Russian issue" for "domestic consumption" are a significant barrier to a real challenge to the EU's policy towards Russia. Moreover, the populists serve as a convenient "sparring partner" to strengthen the existing solidarity in the EU on the issue of relations with Russia.
About the Authors
S. Shein
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey Shein
Moscow
A. Alikin
HSE University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Artyom Alikin
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Shein S., Alikin A. Flase alarm? Populism as a challenge to solidarity in eu policy towards Russia. International Trends / Mezhdunarodnye protsessy. 2021;19(4):151-162. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17994/IT.2021.19.4.67.8
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