69 million page views

Fringe or mainstream?

Reader comment on item: Who Are Europe's Most Important Politicians?

Submitted by Malcolm (Israel), Aug 3, 2018 at 04:15

All such political parties, whether classed as "left" or "right," begin on the fringe. Their greatest challenge comes when they are offered the opportunity to move into the mainstream. Will they adjust to the move or will they demonstrate by their conduct that they are determined to remain on the fringe?

Several of the politicians mentioned by Mr. Pipes have successfully made that move or successfully remained in the mainstream while shifting ideologically. In retrospect, it appears that Wilders decided to stay on the fringe when he staged his "Willen jullie meer of minder Marrokanen?" stunt ("Do you want more or less Moroccans?") on March 19, 2014. Several leading members of his party resigned, the party lost its lead in the polls and its prospects of participating in government seem to have vanished for ever. In fact, the Netherlands needs "more Moroccans" like the resolutely anti-Islamist Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, who recently illuminated city hall with the colors of the Israeli flag after a terrorist attack in Jerusalem.

As for Thierry Baudet, he has been dodging around the challenge, but it is bad news for him that he has lost his by far most important supporter, the philosopher Frank Ankersmit. Of course, the same challenge and question face not just political parties but all kinds of politically inspired movements, including think tanks.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

Reader comments (17) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1"Nationalism Is Bringing Together Israel and Eastern Europe" [395 words]RobertAug 29, 2018 09:26244469
1"Far-right Sweden Democrats hope to topple century of socialism" [1158 words]RobertAug 17, 2018 18:04244281
And why not Marine Le Pen? [6 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
BorisAug 11, 2018 12:31244182
1Muslim immigration to Europe [108 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreAug 4, 2018 14:25244093
Syria doesn't want Sunni Muslims to return. [69 words]Anon.Aug 7, 2018 14:45244093
migrants from Africa [95 words]mythAug 13, 2018 13:35244093
1Myth: Marshall Plan for Africa is the solution to the migrant crisis from poor African countries? May be! [159 words]dhimmi no moreAug 13, 2018 17:18244093
2"Muslim migrants" or barbarians? Jihad against the people of Otranto, Itlay on August 14/1480 [94 words]dhimmi no moreAug 14, 2018 14:09244093
1Mastercard v wikileaks and now Mastercard v Robert Spencer [112 words]dhimmi no moreAug 15, 2018 11:45244093
1Public Sentiment and History Make A Big Difference [89 words]DaveAug 3, 2018 14:43244068
Fringe or mainstream? [223 words]MalcolmAug 3, 2018 04:15244058
Holland really doesn't need more Moroccans. [69 words]Anon.Aug 4, 2018 21:34244058
Aboutaleb another important politician [171 words]mythAug 12, 2018 06:15244058
2The unappealing palestinian in the picture did more than cry with perfect timing [67 words]Anon.Aug 2, 2018 23:20244049
Islamic supremacism [21 words]Christopher GameAug 2, 2018 14:10244039
The Paradigm of Civilizationism is Already Challenged. Where Does the Order of Society Come From Now? [192 words]M ToveyAug 3, 2018 17:28244039
The Paradigm of Civilizationism - Pt II - The Fall of Civilizationalism [477 words]M ToveyAug 8, 2018 13:23244039

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)