DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF THE RISE OF FAR-RIGHT IN EUROPEAN POLITICS: THE CASES OF GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

Abstract

The recent rise of the far-right in Europe has been manifested in different fields that create crucial challenges for maintaining peace and stability in Europe. The first, concerns the increasing votes for far-right parties in various local, national and European Parliament elections. Secondly, there has been rise in far-right organizations and far-right violence. Thirdly, there has been normalization of far-right discourse in European politics. This article focuses on different manifestations of the rise of the far-right in Germany and Austria and the underlying reasons. Specifically, it compares the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and Germany's National Democratic Party (NPD) in terms of their party programs, discourse and electoral success.