What the hell is going on in Europe?
Summary
Jerusalem Demsis and Matthew Glacies discuss the rise of European far-right parties, arguing that centrist liberal movements have failed to pragmatically address voter concerns regarding immigration and crime. They analyze the tension between liberal principles of open borders and democratic mandates for restriction, noting that European states face unique challenges due to robust welfare systems and high public expectations for assimilation. The hosts critique the "sane-washing" of anti-immigration sentiment and emphasize the need for effective state capacity in deportation and integration…
Topics discussed
Intro: Air conditioning politics and episode setup
Matt's 2017 trip to Germany and AFD rally observations
Historical context: German immigration policy and center-right shift
The risk of far-right rise due to mainstream party failures
The importance of immigration policy and historical rights
Far-right vote share trends and the failure of national identity discourse
Sponsor break: ZipRecruiter
Persuasion strategies: Engaging sympathetically with anti-immigrant sentiment
Assimilation expectations and the US vs. Europe distinction
Conceptual foundations: Nation-state vs. economic zone
European political dynamics and the 'not an immigrant country' myth
The fiscal debate: Net drain vs. economic benefits of immigration
Selection effects and the tension between liberal principles and democracy
State capacity, efficacy, and the perception of political failure
Immigration and crime: Data vs. public perception in US and Europe
Enforcement challenges and the human cost of migration routes
Deterrence, pull factors, and the Trump administration's record
Syrian refugee crisis and Swedish political strategies on assimilation
Labor market barriers for immigrants in Europe
Climate politics, far-right hostility, and the air conditioning debate
Peer Review: Impact of fertility on mothers' remote work
Listen ad-free on Castria