Nationalism and the left parties in Europe

Abstract

This study aims to understand the upsurge in nationalism in EU member states with a socialist government in power by applying a case study for two countries. The two EU member states chosen for this particular study are Portugal and Sweden, with both countries filling the criteria of having a left party in power, using nationalism to their advantage, and dealing with the irregular migration crisis, especially the Syrian one. The first question that this study aims to answer is: How have the left parties been using nationalism to their own advantage? To answer this question, an extensive number of articles relevant to the subject were chosen, assessed, and later critiqued in the following chapters. The literature review helps the reader in understanding the relationship between nationalism and the left parties within Europe. Here, the reader is given the basic understanding of what the concept of nationalism entails, moving on to a deeper understanding of how certain countries within the EU have been benefitting or otherwise, from nationalism. Moreover, this study also aims at bringing forth the notion that although nationalism is usually attributed to the far right, recent countries with a left socialist party in government, such as Portugal and Sweden have seen an increase in nationalism among their citizens. The second question this study aims to answer is: What is the approach of the left parties in Portugal and Sweden towards the irregular migration issue? Through a document-based research, the research investigates how Portugal and Sweden have been handling the irregular migration crisis to their advantage, to obtain a victory in their respective national elections. Through a deep analysis, these two countries shall be evaluated thoroughly. It is understood that Portugal has had a demographic deficit, caused by migration and an elderly population, and thus, is aggressively searching for a higher number of migrants. Sweden, on the other hand, had a somewhat similar view of reducing the influx of migrants in the country. As such, thousands of migrants were turned away, and expelled back via airlines to their country of origin. Both socialist parties in the two countries show a different approach as to how they handle nationalism, through their ways of handling irregular migration.