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On Extremism and Democracy in Europe
On Extremism and Democracy in Europe is a collection of short and accessible essays on the far right, populism, Euroscepticism, and liberal democracy by one of the leading academic and public voices today. It includes both sober, fact-based analysis of the often sensationalized rise of the far right in Europe as well as passionate defence of the fundamental values of liberal democracy. Sometimes counter-intuitive and always thought-provoking, Mudde argues that the true challenge to liberal democracy comes from the political elites at the centre of the political systems rather than from the political challengers at the political margins. Pushing to go beyond the simplistic opposition of extremism and democracy, which is much clearer in theory than in practice, he accentuates the internal dangers of liberal democracy without ignoring the external threats. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in European politics, extremism and/or current affairs more generally.
- GenresPolitics
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2016
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About the author
Cas Mudde
22 books70 followersDutch political scientist who focuses his studies on political extremism and populism in Europe. His research includes the areas of political parties, extremism, democracy, civil society and European politics.
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October 22, 2025
Mooi boekje met wetenschappelijke artikelen en columns over de onderling verbonden thema's van uiterst rechts, populisme, euroscepticisme en de liberale democratie in Europa.
Over (links) euroscepticisme:
"The core principles of the process of European integration, of which the EU is the current representation, are and will always be: pooled sovereignty and an integrated market. In other words, the EU is inherently a transnational neoliberal project! Sovereignists of the right (and left) as well as (real) social democrats and socialists on the left should therefore be fundamentally opposed to the EU. It is unrealistic to expect, and disingenuous to suggest, that the EU can be transformed into anything else – leaving aside a couple of ‘green’, ‘national’, and ‘social’ tweaks here and there. Anything else is by definition not the EU. There is therefore no reason to ‘reform’ the EU into a ‘European of Nations’ or a ‘Europe of International Solidarity.’ In fact, this can only be achieved outside of the EU!
(...)
In short, they have to show that a different Europe is possible, but not within this EU or any future EU. Any party or political group that wants to build a really different ‘Europe’ will have to do so outside of the EU. But in order to do so, they will have to denounce their official Euroscepticism and start convincing the population to do the same. Even if this will not convince a majority of Europeans, it will lead to a more honest and transparent debate on European integration. And this will benefit everyone, irrespective of their position on the EU."
Over (links) euroscepticisme:
"The core principles of the process of European integration, of which the EU is the current representation, are and will always be: pooled sovereignty and an integrated market. In other words, the EU is inherently a transnational neoliberal project! Sovereignists of the right (and left) as well as (real) social democrats and socialists on the left should therefore be fundamentally opposed to the EU. It is unrealistic to expect, and disingenuous to suggest, that the EU can be transformed into anything else – leaving aside a couple of ‘green’, ‘national’, and ‘social’ tweaks here and there. Anything else is by definition not the EU. There is therefore no reason to ‘reform’ the EU into a ‘European of Nations’ or a ‘Europe of International Solidarity.’ In fact, this can only be achieved outside of the EU!
(...)
In short, they have to show that a different Europe is possible, but not within this EU or any future EU. Any party or political group that wants to build a really different ‘Europe’ will have to do so outside of the EU. But in order to do so, they will have to denounce their official Euroscepticism and start convincing the population to do the same. Even if this will not convince a majority of Europeans, it will lead to a more honest and transparent debate on European integration. And this will benefit everyone, irrespective of their position on the EU."
Displaying 1 of 1 review