Abstract
Germany and the Netherlands have traditionally been supportive of European integration. As original signatories to the Treaty of Rome, both countries claim to have always been a strong pillar of the European project. In the relance européenne of the mid-1980s both countries did not shy away from proposing supranational solutions to the main challenge that was perceived at the time: fear of losing economic competition to the US and the emerging economies in Asia. Indeed, in September 1991 the Netherlands, holding the rotating chair, famously proposed a treaty revision that was considered far too supranational—by France in particular—and then succeeded in securing a lighter version, the Treaty of Maastricht in December of that year. The realization of the single market and the establishment of the Eurozone proved vital in protecting the European Union (EU) from the effects of globalization, but these successes at the same time promoted the conditions for anti-European sentiments among various segments of the population, paving the ways for populist parties from the right as well as from the left.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The AfD was given this label due to the large number of professors within the party.
- 2.
All translations by the authors.
- 3.
The AfD does make a partial ‘exception’ for developing countries (AfD, 2018: 134), but this concession is less motivated by concerns for economic development and economic justice but by the desire to “reduce incentives for migration to Europe and Germany in particular” (AfD, 2017: 21) by addressing “the economic causes for migration” (AfD, 2018: 121).
- 4.
The leader of Der Flügel, Björn Höcke, for example, claimed NATO does not serve German interests but US interests: “Our once respected army has degenerated from an instrument of national defence to a completely gendered multiculturalized intervention force in the service of the United States” (Höcke, 2017b).
- 5.
The AfD’s apparent sympathy towards Russia has also been visible during the Russian-Ukrainian war. Though the AfD officially condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as a severe breach of international law (AfD, 2022), leading AfD politicians such as Tino Chrupalla and Björn Höcke have relativized the Russian attack and blamed not only the US and NATO for the Russian-Ukrainian war, but also spread Russian propaganda such as the claim that there are secret US bioweapon laboratories in Ukraine (Chrupalla, 2022; Höcke, 2022).
References
AfD. (2017). Wahlprogramm der Alternative für Deutschland für die Wahl zum Deutschen Bundestag am 24. September 2017. https://www.afd.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/111/2017/06/2017-06-01_AfD-Bundestagswahlprogramm_Onlinefassung.pdf
AfD. (2018). Programm für Deutschland: Das Grundsatzprogramm der Alternative für Deutschland. https://www.afd.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/111/2018/01/Programm_AfD_Druck_Online_190118.pdf
AfD. (2019). Europawahlprogramm: Programm der Alternative für Deutschland für die Wahl zum 9. Europäischen Parlament 2019. https://www.afd.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/111/2019/03/AfD_Europawahlprogramm_A5-hoch_web_150319.pdf
AfD. (2021). Deutschland. Aber normal. Programm der Alternative für Deutschland für die Wahl zum 20. Deutschen Bundestag. https://www.afd.de/wahlprogramm/
AfD. (2022). Positionspapier zum Russland–Ukraine-Krieg. https://afdkompakt.de/2022/03/10/positionspapier-zum-russland-ukraine-krieg/
Arzheimer, K. (2015). The AfD: Finally a Successful Right-Wing Populist Eurosceptic Party for Germany? West European Politics, 38(3), 535–556.
Arzheimer, K. (2019). “Don’t Mention the War!” How Populist Right-Wing Radicalism Became (Almost) Normal in Germany. Journal of Common Market Studies, 57, 90–102.
Banchoff, T. (1999). German Identity and European Integration. European Journal of International Relations, 5(3), 259–289.
Bebnowski, D. (2016). ‘Gute Liberale gegen, böse’ Rechte? Zum Wettbewerbspopulismusder AfD als Brücke zwischen Wirtschaftsliberalismusund Rechtspopulismus und dem Umgang mit der Partei. In A. Häusler (Ed.), Die Alternative für Deutschland: Programmatik, Entwicklung und politische Verortung (pp. 25–37). Springer.
Berbuir, N., Lewandowsky, M., & Siri, J. (2015). The AfD and its Sympathisers: Finally a Right-Wing Populist Movement in Germany? German Politics, 24(2), 154–178.
Chrupalla, T. (2022). Rede im Rahmen der 19. Sitzung des Bundestages: Abgabe einer Regierungserklärung durch den Bundeskanzler zur aktuellen Lage. 27 February. https://dserver.bundestag.de/btp/20/20019.pdf
Destradi, S., Cadier, D., & Plagemann, J. (2021). Populism and Foreign Policy: A Research Agenda (Introduction). Comparative European Politics, 19(6), 663–682.
Forum voor Democratie. (2021). Stem Nederland Terug. Verkiezingsprogramma 2021–2025. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/86169/7/FvD%20verkiezingsprogramma%20TK%202021%20definitief.pdf
Galpin, C. (2015). Has Germany ‘Fallen Out of Love’ with Europe? The Eurozone Crisis and the ‘Normalization’ of Germany’s European Identity. German Politics and Society, 33(1), 25–41.
Gauland, A. (2018). Rede Hambacher Schloss: Nationale Identität. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKqn69oU2eM&t=4s
Havertz, R. (2019). Right-Wing Populism and Neoliberalism in Germany: The AfD’s Embrace of Ordoliberalism. New Political Economy, 24(3), 385–403.
Höcke, B. (2017a). Holt unsere Jungs heim!: Die Bundeswehr muss wieder eine reine Verteidigungsarmee werden. https://www.facebook.com/Bjoern.Hoecke.AfD/photos/a.1424703574437591.1073741828.1424631334444815/1862405890667355/?type=3&theater
Höcke, B. (2017b). Rede bei Veranstaltung der Jungen Alternative in Dresden am. 19 January. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/hoecke-rede-im-wortlaut-gemuetszustand-eines-total-besiegten-volkes/19273518.html
Höcke, B. (2022). Tweet, 11 March. https://twitter.com/BjoernHoecke/status/1502278550342156289?cxt=HHwWgoCqrbqYldkpAAAA
JA21. (2021). Het Juiste Antwoord. JA21 Verkiezingsprogramma 2021–2025. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/86186/1/JA21%20verkiezingsprogramma%20TK%202021%20definitief.pdf
Jagers, J., & Walgrave, S. (2007). Populism as Political Communication Style: An Empirical Study of Political Parties’ Discourse in Belgium. European Journal of Political Research, 46(3), 319–345.
Kim, S. (2017). The Populism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD): An Extended Essex School Perspective. Palgrave Communications, 3(5). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-017-0008-1
Klingeren, V., Marijn, A. Z., & Verbeek, B. (2017). Accommodating the Dutch Populist Radical Right in a Multi-Party System: Success or Failure? In P. Odmalm & E. Hepburn (Eds.), The European Mainstream and the Populist Radical Right (pp. 108–129). Routledge.
Lewandowsky, M. (2016). Die Verteidigung der Nation: Außen- und europapolitische Positionen der AfD im Spiegel des Rechtspopulismus. In A. Häusler (Ed.), Die Alternative für Deutschland: Programmatik, Entwicklung und politische Verortung (pp. 39–52). Springer.
Lijst Pim Fortuyn. (2002). Zakelijk met een Hart. Election manifesto. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/vtk2002_vp_lpf.pdf
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2022). Kamerbrief over De Staat van de Unie. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2022/04/28/kamerbrief-inzake-staat-van-de-unie-2022
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe. Cambridge University Press.
Odmalm, P., & Hepburn, E. (Eds.). (2017). The European Mainstream and the Populist Radical Right. Routledge.
Partij voor de Vrijheid. (2006). Verkiezingspamflet. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/vtk2006_vp_pvv.pdf
Partij voor de Vrijheid. (2009). Verkiezingsprogramma Europees Parlement 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/130/1/PVVVerkProgrEurParl2009.pdf
Partij voor de Vrijheid. (2010). De agenda van hoop en optimisme. Een tijd om te kiezen: PVV 2010–2015. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/18/1/VerkiezingsProgrammaPVV2010.pdf
Partij voor de Vrijheid. (2012). Hún Brussel, óns Nederland. Verkiezingsprogramma 2012–2017. Retrieved May 13, 2022, from https://www.pvv.nl/images/stories/verkiezingen2012/VerkiezingsProgramma-PVV-2012-final-web.pdf
Pew Research Centre. (2020). Majorities in the European Union Have Favorable Views of the Bloc. Retrieved May 17, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/11/17/majorities-in-the-european-union-have-favorable-views-of-the-bloc/
Rensmann, L. (2018). Radical Right-wing Populists in Parliament: Examining the Alternative for Germany in European Context. German Politics and Society, 36(3), 41–73.
Schout, A. (2017). The Dutch EU Presidency: The Continuing Relevance of the Rotating Presidency in a Political Union. Journal of Common Market Studies. Annual Review, 55, 54–63.
Segers, M. (2019). The Netherlands and European Integration. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1151
Socialistische Partij. (2002). Eerste Weg Links. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/vtk2002_vp_sp.pdf
Socialistische Partij. (2006). Een Beter Nederland voor Hetzelfde Geld. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/vtk2006_vp_sp.pdf
Socialistische Partij. (2010). Een Beter Nederland voor Minder Geld. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://www.parlement.com/9291000/d/2010_sp_verkiezingsprogramma.pdf
Socialistische Partij. (2012). Nieuw Vertrouwen. Retrived February 17, 2023, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/536/1/SPTK2012prog.pdf
Socialistische Partij. (2017). Pak de Macht. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/10868/1/SPverkiezingsprogramma2017.pdf
Socialistische Partij. (2021). Stel een Daad. Retrieved February 17, 2023, from https://dnpprepo.ub.rug.nl/13280/13/SP%20verkiezingsprogramma%202021-2025.pdf
Stanley, B. (2008). The Thin Ideology of Populism. Journal of Political Ideologies, 13(1), 95–110.
Tillschneider, H.-T. (2016). Rede von Dr. Hans-Thomas Tillschneider beim Kyffhäusertreffen 2016. https://www.derfluegel.de/2016/06/10/video-rede-von-dr-hans-thomas-tillschneider-beim-kyffhaeusertreffen-2016/
Verbeek, B., & van Kersbergen, K. (2020). Subsidiarity as a Subject of Battle in European Union Politics. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1055
Verbeek, B., Vossen, K., & Zaslove, A. (2019). De PVV en het Nederlandse Buitenlandse Beleid. In G. Voerman & K. Vossen (Eds.), Wilders Gewogen. 15 Jaar Reuring in de Nederlandse Politiek (pp. 269–290). Boom.
Verbeek, B., & Zaslove, A. (2017). Populism and Foreign Policy. In C. R. Kaltwasser, P. Taggart, P. O. Espejo, & P. Ostiguy (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Populism. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198803560.013.15
Verbeek, B., & Zaslove, A. (2019). Contested Issues Surrounding Populism in Public and Academic Debates. The International Spectator, 54(2), 1–16.
Verdun, A. (2021). The Greatest of the Small? The Netherlands, the New Hanseatic league and the Frugal four. German Politics. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2021.2003782
Wajner, D. F., & Giurlando, P. (2023). Introduction to Populist Foreign Policy (PFP). In P. Giurlando & D. Wajner (Eds.), Populist Foreign Policy: Regional Perspectives of Populism in the International Scene. Palgrave.
Weyland, K. (2017). Populism: A Political-Strategic Approach. In C. R. Kaltwasser, P. Taggart, P. O. Espejo, & P. Ostiguy (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Populism. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198803560.013.2
Wojczewski, T. (2020a). Populism, Hindu Nationalism, and Foreign Policy in India: The Politics of Representing ‘the People’. International Studies Review, 22(3), 396–422.
Wojczewski, T. (2020b). Trump, Populism, and American Foreign Policy. Foreign Policy Analysis, 16(3), 292–311.
Wojczewski, T. (2021). Conspiracy Theories, Right-wing Populism and Foreign Policy: The Case of the Alternative for Germany. Journal of International Relations and Development. [Online First].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Verbeek, B., Wojczewski, T. (2023). Digging New Western European Trenches: Populism and the Foreign Policies of Germany and the Netherlands. In: Giurlando, P., Wajner, D.F. (eds) Populist Foreign Policy. Global Foreign Policy Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22773-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22773-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22772-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22773-8
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)