Election Debates in United Kingdom, France, and United States of America: Far Right and Far Left

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25 Jun 2024

Election Debates in United Kingdom, France, and United States of America: The Rise of Far Right and Far Left Political Ideologies

Background

In recent years, the rise of far-right and far-left political ideologies has become a prominent feature of election debates in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States of America. These extremist ideologies have garnered significant support among certain segments of the population, often fueled by frustration with traditional political systems and a desire for radical change.
This article will provide an overview of the prominence and impact of far-right and far-left political ideologies in election debates in these three countries, highlighting their key characteristics, political platforms, and consequences.

United Kingdom: The Rise of the Far Right

In the United Kingdom, the far-right has been gaining momentum in recent years, particularly with the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the British National Party (BNP). UKIP, founded in 1993, has been vocal in its opposition to European Union membership and immigration, attracting a significant following among disillusioned Conservative Party voters.

In 2015, UKIP won over 12.6% of the vote in the general election, with many pundits attributing its success to its anti-immigration stance and criticism of the European Union. The BNP, founded in 1982, has also seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly among disaffected working-class voters. The prominence of the far right in UK politics has led to increased polarization and division within society. In 2019, a survey by YouGov found that 42% of Conservative Party supporters believed that immigration was a major problem, while 35% of Labour Party supporters believed it was a minor issue (1).

Far Right Influence: Parties like the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and, more recently, the Brexit Party (now Reform UK) have advocated for stricter immigration controls, nationalism, and skepticism towards the European Union (EU). Their presence in debates has shaped discussions on sovereignty and national identity.
Far Left Influence: The Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn saw a resurgence of socialist policies focusing on nationalization of utilities, higher taxes on the wealthy, and increased social spending. Corbyn's leadership brought issues of income inequality and austerity measures to the forefront of election debates.
Impact: The polarization between these ideologies has fragmented traditional party lines, leading to coalition politics and tactical voting in recent elections.

France: The Rise of Marine Le Pen

In France, the far-right National Rally (RN) party has gained significant support under the leadership of Marine Le Pen. Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founded the Front National (FN) party in 1972, which was known for its anti-immigration and anti-EU rhetoric. Marine Le Pen succeeded her father as leader in 2011 and rebranded the party as the National Rally (RN). She ran for president in 2017 and lost to Emmanuel Macron by a narrow margin. However, she received over 10 million votes (21.3% of the total) and secured 15 seats in the French National Assembly (2).

The RN's political platform emphasizes national sovereignty, anti-immigration policies, and criticism of globalization. Le Pen has also been vocal about her opposition to Islamism and has called for stricter border controls.

Far Right Influence: Marine Le Pen and her National Rally (formerly National Front) have gained prominence with their anti-immigration stance, Euroscepticism, and emphasis on national sovereignty. Le Pen's participation in debates has challenged mainstream narratives on multiculturalism and globalization.
Far Left Influence: Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) has advocated for leftist policies including wealth redistribution, environmental protection, and opposition to neoliberal economic policies. Mélenchon's presence highlights debates on social justice and economic inequality.

Impact: The rise of far-right and far-left ideologies has fragmented the traditional dominance of centrist parties like The Republicans and the Socialist Party, leading to a more fluid political landscape.

United States: The Rise of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

In the United States, the 2016 presidential election saw a significant rise in popularity for both far-left and far-right candidates. On the left, Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign for the Democratic nomination emphasized socialist policies such as free college tuition, universal healthcare, and a higher minimum wage. Sanders' campaign attracted millions of young voters and sparked widespread enthusiasm among liberal circles. Although he lost to Hillary Clinton, his influence can be seen in many Democratic Party policies today.

On the right, businessman Donald Trump won the Republican primary election on a platform that emphasized anti-immigration rhetoric, protectionism, and criticism of traditional politicians. Trump's campaign tapped into white working-class voters' frustration with economic inequality and cultural changes. Trump's presidency has been marked by divisive rhetoric and policies targeting minority groups. His administration's travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries sparked widespread controversy and legal challenges.

Far Right Influence: The far-right in the US is often represented by factions within the Republican Party that emphasize conservative values, limited government intervention, and nationalist policies. Debates have focused on issues like immigration reform, gun rights, and healthcare privatization.

Far Left Influence: The Democratic Party has seen a resurgence of progressive voices advocating for policies such as Medicare for All, tuition-free college education, and the Green New Deal. Candidates like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have pushed these policies into mainstream debate.

Impact: The polarization between far-right and far-left ideologies has intensified, influencing voter turnout, party loyalty, and policy discussions. Issues such as racial justice, climate change, and economic inequality have become central to electoral debates.

Wholistic Impact on Election Debates

The rise of far-right and far-left political ideologies has significantly impacted election debates in these three countries. Key consequences include:

Increased polarization: The growth of extremist ideologies has led to increased polarization within society, making it more difficult for moderate politicians to find common ground.

Divided electorates:
The fragmentation of electoral bases has led to more divided electorates, making it harder for politicians to build broad coalitions.

Alternative media outlets: The rise of social media has enabled extremist voices to reach wider audiences through alternative media outlets.

Radicalization: Extremist ideologies have contributed to radicalization among some individuals who feel excluded from mainstream politics.

Impact on democratic institutions: The growing influence of far-right and far-left ideologies has raised concerns about democratic institutions' ability to function effectively.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the rise of far-right and far-left political ideologies has significantly impacted election debates in the United Kingdom, France, and United States. While these extremist ideologies may not always win elections outright, they have influenced mainstream politics and contributed to increased polarization within societies. As a result, it is essential for citizens to engage critically with these ideologies and promote inclusive politics that address the needs of all members of society.

References

YouGov (2019). Immigration: A major problem or not? Retrieved from https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/gd7yox3nkt/Immigration-a-major-problem-or-not.pdf

National Rally (2020). Our program. Retrieved from https://www.lepen.fr/en/program/

UKIP: https://www.ukip.org/

National Rally (France): https://www.lepen.fr/en/

Bernie Sanders: https://berniesanders.com/

Donald Trump: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/

Image credits: UKIP logo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UKIP_logo.png

Marine Le Pen: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marine_Le_Pen_in_2017.jpg

Bernie Sanders: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernie_Sanders_at_the_2016_Democratic_National_Convention.jpg