Introduction
In April 1945, on a surviving piece of wall amid the ruins of Berlin, someone had written a chilling message: “We will return.” For decades, neither Nazism nor Fascism managed to take root again in Europe. Yet today, the rapid rise of far-right parties across the continent suggests that the shadows of that dark era are once again reappearing.
A Past Believed to Be Buried
For many years, far-right parties were either banned or punished by society with extremely low vote shares. In some cases, states dissolved them outright: Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn was shut down by judicial order, and the Workers’ Party in the Czech Republic was dissolved by the courts—reflecting Europe’s long-standing resistance to extremist movements in the post-war era. But recently, racism once thought to be buried has resurfaced—and in some European countries, has even risen to power. This essay explores the question: Under what conditions has the old nightmare returned?
After World War II, the devastation caused by racist ideologies like Nazism and Fascism remained painfully vivid for surviving Europeans. For those who had witnessed concentration camps, gas chambers, and inhuman atrocities, Fascism was a horror meant to remain forever buried. But as time passed, this memory slowly faded.
Today, for younger generations who did not experience the war—and thus cannot fully grasp the consequences of such ideologies—Fascism has transformed into a rhetoric of “strength” and “protection”, stripped of its true danger. Yet Europe’s far-right surge in the mid-2010s cannot be explained solely by this generational gap.
The Migration Wave That Reshaped Europe
One of the strongest drivers of the far right’s rise is the issue of irregular migration. After the Arab Spring, a massive wave of migration from Africa and Asia reshaped Europe’s demographic landscape. With this shift came rising crime rates and social tension in several European capitals, fueling deep frustration among native populations.
Generous state support for migrants, citizenship policies, and debates over voting rights—combined with rapid demographic change—have triggered widespread backlash. Many citizens believe they are “losing their country”, and this anger has helped elevate far-right parties to power through elections.
In recent elections, far-right parties have become governing forces or coalition partners in 14 of the EU’s 27 member states. Even more strikingly, Germany’s AfD has achieved record support, while traditionally social-democratic countries such as Sweden and Finland have seen far-right movements closer to power than ever before.
A Resurgence of Antisemitism
Another factor fueling the far right is the rise of antisemitism. Israel’s assault on Gaza has intensified negative perceptions of Israel and Jews across Europe. The scale of suffering in Gaza has reignited historical antisemitic undercurrents, which far-right parties have exploited for political gain.
Disturbingly, anger toward Israel has sometimes morphed into open sympathy for Nazi imagery, particularly among younger generations. Nazi salutes reappear in public spaces, from European cities to American schools, where swastikas are drawn, and Nazi gestures are replicated without understanding their meaning, and fascist symbols are increasingly normalized.
The Decline of the Center
Together, these developments reveal the steady collapse of centrist politics in Europe. Continued migration pressures, geopolitical crises, and populist manipulation suggest that the far right’s momentum is unlikely to fade soon.
As Umberto Eco once warned: “Fascism is still around us, and it sometimes appears wearing civilian clothes. Fascism can return under the most innocent disguises. Our duty is to unmask it and point out its new forms wherever they may appear.”
Ali EKİNCİEL
