Estonian commentator Tiido relayed assessments of the New Right phenomenon
In Estonia, commentator Harri Tiido examined the concept of the New Right in an ERR News article, drawing on a book by British political historian Stephen Davies. In Davies' view, the new political realignment could dominate for the next 30–40 years.
A new axis of division
According to Tiido's account, in the second half of the 20th century, the main axis of political disputes concerned the role of the state in the economy — between the free market and state control. Davies now believes that a more important divide is emerging between nationalism, sovereignty and collective identity, on the one hand, and cosmopolitanism, globalism and rules-based technocracy, on the other.
According to Davies' assessment, this shift has already taken place in France, Poland and the United States, while in Spain and Portugal the process is only beginning. The New Right, as he describes it, emphasizes national sovereignty and distinctiveness, contrasting them with cosmopolitan individualism. The movement is also associated with anti-elite sentiment and the demand to return power to the “people.”
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Identity and economic policy
In socioeconomic policy, the New Right, according to Tiido's account, supports preserving the welfare state and an active role for the state. He characterizes this approach as national collectivism or neo-mercantilism, involving protectionism, a state development strategy, intervention in the economy and the direction of investment.
Among the factors behind the spread of such views, the article mentions dissatisfaction with the alleged corruption and elitism of national and international institutions, as well as disputes over political correctness, policies aimed at reducing racial and gender inequality, and climate policy. Tiido cautions that not this entire range of phenomena should correctly be called populism, since populist movements can be both right-wing and left-wing.
Davies also allows that the European New Right may develop the idea of civilizational nationalism, under which shared loyalty and identity would unite Europe. In his view, such a European demos would define itself as Christian, white and non-American.
