Dr. Srdjan Vucetic
Professor of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa

The radical right is no longer a fringe movement in Europe but a growing political force shaping the continent’s future, according to Dr. Srdjan Vucetic, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

At a lecture sponsored by Presbyterian College’s Political Science and Public Policy Department, Vucetic detailed how far-right parties have gained traction across Europe, forming coalitions, influencing mainstream politics, and forging global ideological alliances. His lecture, titled “The Rise of the Radical Right in Europe,” examined the movement’s history, ideological divisions, and connections to international political trends.

“This is no longer a small, isolated phenomenon,” Vucetic said. “The radical right is here to stay, and its influence is only growing.”

Mainstreaming the Radical Right

Once confined to the political margins, far-right parties now hold positions of power or influence in at least 12 European countries, Vucetic said. Some have formed coalition governments, while others wield power by pushing mainstream conservative parties to adopt their rhetoric and policies.

Citing examples from France, Germany, Italy, and Hungary, Vucetic highlighted leaders such as Marine Le Pen of France’s Rassemblement National, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, and Matteo Salvini of Italy’s Lega Nord. These politicians, he said, have moved beyond traditional nationalism to embrace a globalized far-right ideology.

“They aren’t just reacting to local issues anymore,” Vucetic said. “They are organizing across borders, forming networks, attending the same summits, and exchanging strategies.”

The 2014-2015 European migrant crisis, he noted, was a turning point. As millions of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa arrived in Europe, radical right parties capitalized on fears about immigration, national identity, and security. Mainstream conservatives, feeling electoral pressure, adopted similar talking points.

“Once that shift happened, it was difficult to reverse,” Vucetic said. “Why vote for a conservative party copying the far right when you can just vote for the original?”

A Divided Movement

Despite their common emphasis on nationalism, sovereignty, and opposition to liberal elites, radical right movements in Europe do not form a monolithic bloc. Vucetic outlined three distinct ideological factions within the movement:

• National Conservatives: This faction seeks to reframe the European Union as a Judeo-Christian civilization, incorporating Israel while excluding non-Christian nations such as Turkey. Once Euroskeptic, they now support the EU as long as it is led by conservative elites.
• Neo-Gaullists: Influenced by French New Right thinkers like Alain de Benoist, this group rejects both U.S. influence and European integration, advocating for a “Europe of 100 flags” made up of sovereign nation-states and regional identities.
• Neo-Eurasianists: Led by Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, this faction envisions a Eurasian empire centered on Moscow and seeks to dismantle Western institutions such as NATO.

“These factions do not always agree, especially on foreign policy,” Vucetic said. “Some see Russia as a threat, others see it as a model. Some want to reform the EU, others want to destroy it.”

Russia’s Role in the Far-Right Ecosystem

One common factor in many far-right movements, however, is the influence of Russia. Vucetic described how Russian leaders, particularly President Vladimir Putin, have actively cultivated relationships with radical right parties across Europe.

Since the 1990s, Moscow has hosted summits, funded nationalist groups, and provided ideological support to far-right figures, including American white supremacist David Duke and European identitarian leaders. Russian officials, Vucetic said, have framed their country as the last stronghold of traditional values against the liberal West.

“They aren’t just supporting these movements—they are shaping their worldview,” he said.

Dugin, often called “Putin’s philosopher,” has been instrumental in promoting the idea of “civilizational multipolarity,” a vision of the world divided into distinct cultural blocs led by regional powers rather than a U.S.-dominated global order. His ideas, once confined to academic circles, are now echoed in Russian foreign policy rhetoric.

“We are watching these ideas transition from theory to state doctrine,” Vucetic said. “Russia sees itself as the leader of an anti-liberal world order.”

The Future of European Politics

The growing strength of the radical right has led some analysts to argue that European politics is now primarily defined by a contest between the mainstream right and the radical right, with the left increasingly marginalized.

While some far-right parties have lost power, Vucetic said their influence remains strong, as former opponents adopt their policies on immigration, national identity, and law and order.

Even countries that have recently ousted far-right governments, such as Poland, continue to enforce many of their predecessors’ policies, he said.

“What we’re seeing is not just a political shift but an ideological one,” Vucetic said. “The center has moved to the right, and it’s not moving back anytime soon.”

Global Implications

Beyond Europe, radical right ideas are spreading to other regions. Vucetic pointed to rising nationalism in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the popularity of U.S. President Donald Trump among European far-right groups, and the emergence of nationalist movements in Latin America and Africa.

“The radical right is no longer just a European or American issue,” he said. “It is part of a global trend toward authoritarian nationalism.”

Vucetic ended his lecture by emphasizing the need for continued research on the far right’s expansion and influence. As European elections approach in Germany, France, and other key nations, he said, understanding these movements will be crucial in predicting the future of global politics.

“This isn’t going away,” Vucetic said. “And the next few years will determine just how far this shift goes.”