A comprehensive study from Humboldt University in Berlin has cast serious doubt on the prevailing political strategy of engaging with far-right parties, challenging the notion that cooperation can moderate their influence. The research, analyzing 647 governments across 37 democracies between 1980 and 2023, unequivocally demonstrates that collaborative efforts – whether direct participation in government or indirect support – fail to weaken extremist factions. In fact, the study’s findings, reported by “Handelsblatt”, suggest that such partnerships often result in a net gain in political strength for these parties.
Heike Klüver, a political scientist and co-author of the analysis, emphasized that “no form of collaboration leads to right-wing extremist parties losing power”. She dismissed the common assumption that inclusion could neutralize these groups, arguing that the hypothesis “does not withstand empirical scrutiny” and constitutes a “politically risky and strategically counterproductive” approach. The study’s implications are significant, particularly in countries grappling with the rise of populist and extremist movements.
The findings have sparked renewed debate on the effectiveness of the “firewall” approach, with some, like Passau-based political scientist Heinrich Oberreuter, criticizing it as “intellectually skewed and deficient”. Oberreuter contends that the surge in popularity of parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) cannot be countered through mere political demarcation. He advocates for policies aimed at alleviating societal anxieties and fostering a sense of optimism, arguing that the root causes of extremist appeal lie in deeper, structural issues.
While acknowledging the necessity of defending democratic fundamentals with clear boundaries, Oberreuter cautions against granting far-right parties a “veto position” by rejecting valuable policy proposals simply due to their potential support from those groups. The study underscores the complexity of managing the rise of extremism and calls for a critical re-evaluation of existing political strategies, demanding a deeper understanding of the factors driving support for these movements rather than relying on simplistic approaches of inclusion or isolation.