Global Issues 4.7: Nationalism II

Hey Global Issues, this is the lecture for the second part of our series on Nationalism. Please watch this video before taking the quiz! Additional videos are linked below:

[BenGunden]

The National Rally, known as the National Front until June 2018, is a French political party (described as far-right populist and nationalist) founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen. The National Rally is a rebranded attempt to pivot away from the infamy of its former name, and while much of France views this party as racist, xenophobic, extreme, and dangerous, there is a need to acknowledge that it has rapidly grown in the past years from an organization on the margins of the French political spectrum to a dominant political force in Europe. In 2019, the Rally won EU elections in France, netting a higher percentage of the vote than the party of current French president Emmanuel Macron. The National Rally is particularly popular amongst young French people, and it has described itself as an solution for the "forgotten" citizens of France who feel abandoned (and view immigrants as the reason).


A logical look at the state of French politics cannot ignore the strong possibility that the National Rally may become the dominant party in France. While the party's views on immigration, and its history of racism, are enough to leave a bitter taste in many French mouths, the fact that it is populist, anti-establishment, and politically novel is enough to gain lots of traction in the public.


The fact that it won in the French EU elections last year cannot be stressed enough, as it shows its dominance as a party in France.

[lanan]

Brexit (British exit) refers to the United Kingdom parting ways from the European Union. This request was first drafted in 2016 when the UK decided that they wanted to be an independent state apart from the EU. Those arguing for Brexit believe that the EU has transitioned from a free trade zone into a super-state that is taking away from Britain's national sovereignty. As far as the rise of populism in the UK, the war against immigration has expanded as a result. Some people share the idea that globalization is taking away from their chances at success and instead handed down to people who migrate over. The head and tail of this beast come down to economic risks vs. flow of immigrants. Former Prime Minister Theresa May resigned due to failing 3 attempts to negotiate a new deal. In June of 2016, 52% vote to leave the EU and 48% voted to stay. The vote was a close call, as predicted. Following its departure, the UK will enter a transition period until December 31, 2020.