Co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) Alice Weidel (L) and Tino Chrupalla (R) in Berlin on December 5, 2025.
(Tobias Schwarz / AFP via Getty Images)
Only a few years ago, European elites were patting themselves on the back for fending off the tide of right-wing anti-system parties (often styled as populists). But recent polls in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom show that that the far right is once again gaining traction, thanks in no small part to centrist governments that have demoralized the population and legitimized xenophobia. David Broder, author of Mussolini’s Grandchildren and European editor of Jacobin, wrote a wide-ranging essay on this for The New York Times. I spoke to David about both the dismal decisions of mainstream parties and possible alternatives.Â
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