Description
This paper analyses the rhetoric of European radical right parties ― such as the National Rally, the Freedom Party of Austria, and Fidesz ― regarding the War in Ukraine. It aims to distinguish their position on this matter and determine if it leads them towards a more moderate ideological standpoint, in line with the 'liberal consensus', or if it intensifies their struggle against the Western liberal order and makes them even more radical. Recent debates in International Relations have introduced the concept of reactionary internationalism, a more or less homogenous ideology of a global anti-liberal right-wing movement with its connections to Russia, China, and other illiberal actors. Despite efforts to strengthen ties, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has presented a setback, creating an opportunity for the liberal community to come together and rediscover a sense of unity. Based on these assumptions, this paper employs discourse analysis to examine whether there is a shared ideology of reactionary internationalism among the actors associated with the European Parliament’s Identity and Democracy group, and how the ongoing War in Ukraine impacts it. Furthermore, the paper explores a more general question of whether this shared ideology poses a threat to the liberal international order.
Keywords: Liberal International Order, Radical Right, Reactionary Internationalism, War in Ukraine
