Close up: the rise of Europe’s far-right

Is Europe taking the threat of right-wing extremism seriously enough? Anders Breivik’s killing spree in Norway in July and the recent discovery that neo-Nazis were behind the murders of at least 10 immigrants in Germany suggest it isn’t. A recent study by British think-tank Demos claims hardline groups such as the English Defence League and Anti-Islam Alliance in the UK actively use the internet to mobilise support, but this doesn’t explain the whole story.

Far-right observers say the spread of nationalism and populist parties in Europe is also down to the current economic climate and concerns over immigration. A deep cynicism about the EU and mainstream political parties also seems to be feeding the rise in populism. In France, the National Front led my Marine Le Pen has strong support, as does Geert Wilders’ Party of Freedom in the Netherlands. In Britain, the face of nationalism is often young and male. euronews’ Gülsüm Alan spoke to Michael Privot, Director of the European Network against Racism, to see if he thought the threat of far-right extremism was becoming more dangerous. To see the full Close up, click on the video above.

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