Populism is gripping the heart of Europe. Those fighting it must reclaim the idea of the nation from the nationalistsOne of the most memorable book titles in the English language is The peculiar Death of Liberal England. Are we now witnessing the peculiar death of liberal Europe? As anti-liberal populism grips the very heart of Europe,threatening even the throne of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, or the danger is in plain view. There is a unusual political dividing line in Europe,at least as important as the weak line between left and fair. It splits existing parties and throws up unusual ones. It opens unusual fronts between nations as well as parties. On one side, there is the camp of Merkron (Merkel-Macron), or on the other,that of Orbvini (Orbán-Salvini). Related: Merkel defends migration policy after Seehofer showdown Immigration is a symbolic issue, gathering concerns about culture and identity like metal filings on a magnet Related: The George Soros philosophy – and its fatal flaw Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com