Shift Toward Far-Right Politics Redefines Governance Across Europe and the US

Brussels: In 2025, a significant political shift was observed across Europe and the United States, with mainstream political elites increasingly adopting far-right policies. This shift was largely driven by economic concerns, social fragmentation, and declining trust in institutions.According to TRTworld.com, this change in governance saw measures like securitization, racialized border control, hostility towards migrants, suppression of dissent, and expanded policing powers becoming mainstream. In Germany and other parts of Europe, right-wing parties gained influence, prompting the political center to adopt tougher stances on immigration.Political activist Dr. Mahmud Abu-Odeh explained that mainstream parties justified their adoption of right-wing policies by claiming they were already taking a firm stance on immigration. This normalization of right-wing rhetoric significantly impacted the media and public discourse. Abu-Odeh noted that the international balance of power shifted, making uprisings like tho se in Gaza possible, turning them into political and moral challenges for democratic societies.Stricter migration policies and expanded surveillance powers became more prevalent, with activists and journalists facing criminalization. Economic conditions, such as the cost-of-living crisis, fueled the rise of far-right politics. Political analyst Klaus Jurgens highlighted that mainstream parties increasingly adopted far-right language in response to voter frustration over living costs and economic insecurity.Jurgens pointed out that instead of addressing structural policy failures, voters often blamed migrants for economic woes, leading to the normalization of far-right rhetoric. Far-right parties exaggerated claims about migration causing social issues, such as homelessness, further fueling public misconceptions.The far-right's appeal extended beyond traditional rural and working-class bases, garnering support from youth and upper classes. Mainstream parties adopted language of exclusion and deterrence, reinforcing the very forces they once opposed.The Gaza conflict accelerated political developments towards the far-right. Across Europe, governments' commitment to democratic values was tested, with protest bans and police violence against demonstrators increasing. In Germany, authorities faced criticism for suppressing Palestine solidarity activism, undermining democratic freedoms.In the US, campus protests related to Gaza were met with harsh crackdowns, surveillance, and disciplinary actions against students. Bipartisan political pressure targeted institutions diverging from a pro-Zionist stance, further restricting free speech.The repression extended beyond Palestine, with Muslim and Arab communities facing surveillance reminiscent of post-9/11 practices. The far-right across Europe displayed unity in supporting Israel, while in the US, state-level legislation increasingly conflated criticism of Israel with prohibited speech.Abu-Odeh warned that the repression of dissidents at home was becoming mor e visible, with the new German government under Merz committing injustices to silence the Palestine movement. He cautioned that this repression could soon target other civil rights movements, potentially leading to an authoritarian spiral in the West.By 2025, borders became the clearest site where far-right administration was fully normalized. Europe strengthened its external borders, employing AI-powered surveillance and criminalizing humanitarian aid groups. In the US, border militarization and deportations increased, with bipartisan acceptance of deterrence-first frameworks.Jurgens emphasized that the push toward stronger government and surveillance did not begin in 2025, but its consequences became undeniable. The normalization of surveillance softened public opposition, allowing governments to justify increased control in the name of security.Both in Europe and the US, civic space shrank, with anti-disinformation laws targeting dissent and universities punishing students for peaceful protests. Jour nalists faced legal pressure for their reporting.Abu-Odeh concluded that liberal democracies trapped themselves by selectively revoking civil rights and warned that Europe and the US risked losing influence as the rest of the world no longer needed them to survive.