The Problem of Immigration in the Program Documents of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe in the First Quarter of the 21st Century
Authors: Popov Dmitry I. 
Published: October 2024

The article shows that the problem of immigration occupies one of the central places in the program documents of European right-wing populist parties. Right-wing populists proceed from the fact that many Muslim immigrants in European countries form the so-called “parallel communities” with their own social and legal norms and a low degree of cultural integration into the host society - the nation. “Outsiders” not only do not seek to integrate into local communities, but also do not want to maintain any relations with non-Muslims of the host countries. With immigrants, right-wing populists associate the deterioration in the quality of life of indigenous people, the growth of crime and unemployment, and an additional burden on the social support systems of the population. At the same time, fearing to alienate moderate voters, right-wing populists do not oppose immigrants whose civil status has been settled and who have integrated into the host societies, becoming their organic part. The author of the article shows that the nutrient medium of populist propaganda is fear - an important tool for social mobilization. Right-wing populists give concrete form to public fears by pointing out to “frightened voters” the real or perceived dangers posed by immigrants. Such, for example, as the loss of national identity by the peoples of Europe, the destruction of the stability and well-being of indigenous Europeans. The result was the emergence and growth of a group of “frightened voters” ready to give up democratic convictions and oriented towards a homogeneous national community as the highest value. Right-wing populist parties offer two ways to solve the “immigration issue” in European countries. First, by tightening the national immigration policy (up to bullet immigration). Populists believe that the bureaucratic structures of the European Union have unlawfully secured extremely broad powers in the sphere of regulating immigration. Therefore, demands are being made to return to national states the right to determine the principles of immigration policy on their territory. The range of approaches to the content of national immigration policy among populists is quite wide: from the complete closure of borders for all immigrants to the establishment of strict border controls and the issuance of entry permits to individuals on a limited range of grounds. These grounds primarily include the need for skilled labor from non-European countries. European right-wing populists demand that all immigrants who have legal status in host countries integrate into the local society, adapt to its culture and way of life. Populists see another way to solve the “immigration issue” as "getting rid of" illegal immigrants, both by encouraging voluntary return migration and by forcibly deporting illegal immigrants. The article concludes that the political program of the right-wing populist parties was a response to the request of a large and socially heterogeneous group of European voters, covered by protest moods.