I admit that some days, I am tempted to tune out Europe’s political dramas. We already have more than enough issues to worry about here in the United States (with even more, it seems, on the way), from political polarization to economic pressures to rising egg prices and back again. However, as tempting as it sounds, ignoring Europe’s far-right surge could backfire, as the political upheaval across the pond often seeps into our debates, policies, and daily lives. The far-right resurgence is not only Europe’s problem, unfortunately. It is a global issue, and overlooking it would be a mistake.
Europe’s political shifts affect the broader international order. When influential nations turn inward and adopt nationalist or protectionist agendas, the impact ripples far beyond their borders. Observers have noted that far-right parties and leaders frequently express skepticism toward the United Nations and other international institutions (goodbye, WHO), and many are wary of collaborative efforts on matters like climate change or refugee resettlement [1]. This distrust is not confined to Europe, as evident in the past few weeks alone. This distrust carries over into UN negotiations, NATO discussions, and cross-Atlantic trade deals. In a closely linked world, what happens in Brussels or Berlin can reverberate in Washington DC.
Some analysts argue that the far-right surge reflects deeper societal and economic anxieties, including job insecurity, large-scale migration, and cultural tensions [2]. Once these views become part of the standard policy debate, more extreme positions can seem ordinary. In time, the entire political spectrum drifts rightward, making formerly radical stances part of everyday politics.
Far-right parties across Europe have not only shifted the conversation in places like Italy, Hungary, and certain regions of Germany, but they have also mastered using digital platforms to project their influence far beyond national borders [3]. These groups have made fringe ideas mainstream by creating memes, viral videos, and algorithm-friendly posts to put online. Even when they do not secure outright majorities, they leverage online momentum to steer larger coalitions that depend on popular support. Before long, ideas once considered extreme make their way into law because parties with moderate reputations adopt them for political survival. Sound familiar?
For Americans, the stakes are both moral and pragmatic. We have learned since we were children how extremist rhetoric destabilizes nations, and we would do well to remember what we learned. Present-day far-right movements might differ from their historical counterparts, but their use of digital platforms (and digital platforms’ owners) poses new risks [4]. When leaders target minority groups or undermine democratic norms, society becomes more polarized, and technology is able to amplify that already existing rift at lightning speed. If the United States genuinely values human rights and openness like they say they do, ignoring these developments isn’t a choice for us. Geographic distance means next to nothing in a world where a single post or video can cross borders in seconds [5].
This transnational threat thrives on social media. Far-right networks use digital tools and social media platforms (like Twitter, dare I say) to circulate conspiracies, hate speech, and misinformation in a matter of hours, transforming localized outrage in one country into a trending topic in another. It becomes a feedback loop, where one extremist meme in Europe can morph into a talking point in the United States [6][7]. As political activism migrates online, fact-checkers and civil society struggle to keep pace with the evolving flood of disinformation.
The 2024 European Parliament elections underscored how tech-savvy campaigns and online mobilization can tip the scales on issues that have global resonance, from environmental standards to immigration policy [8]. A fractured or polarized European Union sends shockwaves into domestic politics elsewhere in an interconnected world. Crises such as pandemics and environmental damage don’t recognize borders. The ripple effects from a weakened EU can easily reach across the Atlantic, making "their" problems suddenly feel like "ours".
How do we respond? First, we need to look beyond sensational headlines. It can be tempting to dismiss European far-right ascents as irrelevant or beyond our American jurisdiction, but local shifts quickly gain international traction in a hyperlinked reality. We should speak up when these movements clash with core democratic values. That could look like supporting digital literacy initiatives, encouraging cultural exchange between groups and people, and encouraging your representatives to pass legislation against online disinformation. A healthy democracy depends on a collective willingness to defend it, and social media is increasingly blurring the divide between "domestic" and "foreign" issues.
It may be simpler to focus solely on problems here at home. Our to-do list is already daunting, and it’s only one(ish) month into the semester. However, Europe’s struggles rarely stay in Europe. Global democratic norms matter because, in the end, hostility toward those norms in Europe will eventually find its way to our doorstep.
