Hard lessons for the Left: analysing Austria's far-right victory

[@slouter72]

The Duran said it best: “It’s not the left vs the right. It’s the sovereignists vs the globalists.”

Unsurprisingly the people of Europe don't want to suffer the fate of Britain & Ireland

[@markkeogh2190]

I’m irish. What are you talking about. ? And don’t put Britain and ireland in the same sentence.

@@markkeogh2190 Yes imagine putting two geographically adjacent islands with free movement and a shared territory in the same sentence; How frightful, I hope your feelings can recover And if you are happy with modern Ireland, and being made a minority within it in your lifetime then be happy, makes no difference what I say. But people on the continent are looking at the British isles, or 'Atlantic archipelago' as the EU calls it, with commiseration and are voting to not become like us. Hope that helps you understand why Austria voted 'far-right'

[@catsandcrows8880]

Since none of the current mainstream parties in my country doesn't take too much immigration from certain cultures/religion seriously in my country, I will have to vote "far right" in the coming election. Used to be a leftie, but no more.

[@bethcapone6918]

Thanks!

[@DiEM25official]

Thank you Beth!

[@DuderofDudeness]

I have a feeling these "far right" ppl are 99% not "knot z's"

[@TTTzzzz]

Analyse/acknowledge their fears.

[@mkh4lili]

Yes. So much rests on the opening message. “I get what you are feeling. I don’t blame you for feeling it. Maybe in your position, I might feel the same. But I have a different analysis of the situation, and different solutions. Let me explain..."

[@TTTzzzz]

@@mkh4lili Understanding their fears is not the same as agreeing with then.

[@mkh4lili]

@@TTTzzzz Precisely.

[@TTTzzzz]

@@mkh4lili Please do!

[@LeeeerrrroooyJennnnnkins]

Bizzaro, at 36 minutes, when talking about why people in the whitest communities are voting far right based on immigration, making a claim that it can't be because of racism or immigration because they are least effected, this is exactly wrong, it's out of an impending fear that their communities will transition into the 'cosmopolitan composition' that drives their anti immigration hostility.. it's people that experience multi culturalism and it's relative peace that have reduced levels of immigrant hostility..

Except in countries like Britain white people flee the 'multicultural peace' of London & Birmingham leaving them majority African & Asian

[@UnCoolDad]

Who defines what "far right" means?

[@markkeogh2190]

The right wing love defining things don’t they. We can’t define ‘chair’ if we really get down to it. Not being able to define something doesn’t mean we don’t recognize and use a thing. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Definitions don’t make reality. We all know what a chair is in most useful contexts and we all have a fairly good idea what the ‘far right ‘is. It has to do with xenophobia , corporate power , a throw back to some ‘golden age ‘ and sometimes the use of violence especially against a minority ‘other ‘. Not that difficult to recognize really.

[@UnCoolDad]

@@markkeogh2190 Sometimes peoples definitions can be seen as derogatory. They can be innocent definitions - out of ignorance, but other times they are passive aggressive - out of malice.

[@UnCoolDad]

@@markkeogh2190 The left (or far left in your nomenclature) seem to like re-defining everyday words too. Like 'xenophobia' which used to be the fear of strangers. A phobia (φόβος in Greek) means fear. The left seem to have re-defined it as 'hate'.

[@markkeogh2190]

@@UnCoolDad I don’t understand.

[@UnCoolDad]

@@markkeogh2190 What don't you understand? You are calling people 'far right' as a slur.

[@dragannikolovski2363]

It all makes perfect sense. It should be alarming when normal decent people are voting for something that is clearly presented, but they don't take it seriously. History has shown that these people usually regret it later, but it's usually too late then.

[@mervynhyde1]

One way to beat the far right politically would be be to withdraw from the single currency and reinstate the schilling. Then use it fund public expenditure.

[@markkeogh2190]

Austria is frequently far right. No surprise.

[@outcastoffoolgara]

This 'far right' terminology is chucked around like confetti. Is the Freedom Party actually FAR RIGHT or is it nationalist and sovereign? Can you give us some definitive insight to its orientation. I get it that it is conservative and not immigration friendly, but what are the specific rightist policies does it advocate.

[@samuelheol8870]

The FPÖ in parliament is - in contrast to their advertising - traditionally voting against the improvement of social state and against redistribution messures, their understanding of social fairness concentrates only on taking the money from the migrants and giving it to "our people", they have no understanding what so ever for taxing the rich or regulating the finance sector, in the pandemic the FPÖ agitated the population against science and scientists, they are denying the existance of man made climate change, they use right extremist terminology extensively like "remigration", "Volkskanzler", "population exchange", "Völkerwanderung", "concentration of migrants", "asylum stop" etc. They also explicitly not distance themselves from radical right groups of the present (Identitäre Bewegung) or the past (Austro-Faschismus, Reichskanzler Dollfuß is an idol for Mr. Kickl)... Now to their so called "Einzelfälle" / singular cases. Also the persons among their ranks show a very strong tendency towards extreme right, to say the least. There're more and more "singular cases" of clear antisemites and neonazis within the FPÖ - and the plural form here already implements the paradoxy of still sticking to the ridiculous narrative of the one case of neonazism! The FPÖ is not "just nationalist and sovereign". Yes, the term "far right" is thrown into everybody's faces all around, but with this party you have a prime example of a far right party.

[@mitu5492]

It Is far-right, and quite openly expressed support for far-right identitarian groups, who had connections to fckn terrorists. "conservative and immigration unfriendly" is just a buzzword at this point for not saying fascists.

[@rstoeckler]

Karl Marx was against unregulated mass immigration of unskilled labor! Search for "Lumpenproletariat"... The objective of projects like this is to hide the fact that the mainstream 'left' today is funded in lagre part by old money & corp. intrests groups to advance the ne0-lib agenda... Look at real incomes since 1980!

[@cat_terrell]

"Austria is famous for stability." Really? Come On! We All Know what it's Famous For!

[@jason8077]

Mr H didnt have to shoot a bullet in that country

[@thechri5357]

@@cat_terrell Schnitzel?

[@frankie3041]

Mozart?

[@frankie3041]

Please don’t be ignorant. AH was anti-Austria, i.e. against the Austria as it had been for hundreds of years. In his first speech upon annexing Austria he said he wanted to dismantle the Austria that had been there for the past 300 years, by which he meant the entire Catholic society of Austria. In his younger years he was a member of a group call “Los-von-Rom” (which means “Let’s get away from Rome”) which wanted to de-Catholicise Austria.

[@cat_terrell]

@frankie3041 Who's Ignorant? Austria Is Most Famous in Modern History For Adolf Hitler. I met my first 2 Nazis facecto face at the Austrian border in 1987, Child! The "Political Scientist" grinned in this interview, everytime she spoke of the right! Then, She made a Scowl face, the One Time she mentioned the socialist dem, left. Don't call ppl Ignorant. And, Definitely, Don't Call Me, That! Hilter wanted to Change ALL OF EUROPE! AND, HE DID!! Fascism Is Back! FULL THROTTLE! Keep your Crap to Yourself, next time. YOU CANNOT SCHOOL ME ON WWII HISTORY! BET!

[@huveja9799]

I would say that the simplification and caricaturization through the use of labels, of which this video is a sample, shows the real problem..

[@zamoeyu]

What's wrong with those?

[@huveja9799]

@@zamoeyu Could you expand on your question? I don't understand it in that summary format ..

[@Polit_Burro]

I would say your superficial and buzzword laden "analysis" is the problem.

[@Polit_Burro]

@@huveja9799 Can you expand on your critique? I don't understand what you claim is "oversimplification" in this 38 minute long video in your oversimplified, caricaturized "critique".

[@huveja9799]

@@Polit_Burro I would have a question for you, what would be the use of a label?

[@SteveParsons-ns2qn]

Nothing about Gaza or the war in the Ukraine - a strange ´Left` that does not take up the issue of peace.

[@Julie_Hamilton]

Go look at past live streams and videos. We took a break over summer and are just getting back to putting out content. DiEM is very clear on our support for Palestine.

[@SteveParsons-ns2qn]

@@Julie_Hamilton Thanks Julie, I appreciate your reply but I cannot understand why those on the left don`t prioritize the call for peace, again and again!

[@videobyredjade]

Thank you

[@mw1449]

Something is missing here, if people like me an known antifashist is called by a Green Party leader Nazi , a Sozialist Party asked sincerely to to remove my citizenship, only because a I refused to be vaccinated , then we have a clear right ti question such people anting like in an totalitarian state. Involved public broadcast and church. And then no clear apologies, no clear regret about such behavior and naughtiness high up to the highest ranks of society? What do you think earn such people ? Whom would you vote for ? Yes , it’s true people less stupid as some think. And for sure the most people who voted for Kickl. Did neither vote for any antisemitic right wing party , and look sentimental back , but clearly know also about our questionable past ! Think about that ! By the way , my wife is from another country, greetings to all. No chance for any Nazi in Austria anymore!

[@maryhuckaby2239]

The needs and discontents of Trump voters are very clear: de-industrialization, no jobs or only gig jobs, low wages, inability to buy a house or pay rent, medical bankruptcy and other poverty issues, also resentment against uncontrolled immigration and foreign wars, and to some lesser extent, cultural issues, mainly (I would say) promotion of sexual morays in schools to which parents object. Also, though most Americans are tolerant and have a "live and let live" attitude, Trump voters tend to stress family values, oppose abortion and don't like gay/trans advocacy shoved in their faces. Not that Trump can or will satisfy any of the above but those are the needs and discontents that move people to support him. One other, dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party which has morphed into the party of the Banksters and War, which is driving some Democrats to Trump or to Jill Stein/Green Party (anti-war). I am half way through this vid, and so far I have gained no understanding of the issues - other than immigration - that have inspired Austrian voters to vote for a far right party. I feel like they're hiding or muffling something, unable to speak of it? Racism? The bombing of the Nordstream pipeline? The Ukraine war? The Israel war? I will give them a chance to spell it out. I am not hopeful.

[@maryhuckaby2239]

Well, no, they didn't explain it very well. I still don't understand why voters in Austria are rebelling against the status quo parties nor what their needs and discontents are.

[@DoctorOzelot]

@@maryhuckaby2239 The status quo parties are - as so often - f***ups. The conservatives only serve the richest of the rich of the country and have a harder and harder time motivating people with "values" (usually from the 19th century) - a decade ago they tried a hardcore populist approach with a young, charismatic (near-absolutist) leader. He became chancellor, but his government fell apart, because he was corrupt as all get out and comically evil (he now works for Peter Thiel and the Saudis - and probably some other Bond villains). After him they have a very plain leader, who cannot continue the populist hype train. The social democrats were historically very powerful and certainly did a lot of good things for the country. They are also famously corrupt and this is a stereotype, which is hard to shake. Over the years they built a parallel upper class - with labour leaders who end up as really, really rich people. Whenever there is a scandal about a criminal rich person, there is a chance that former social democrat leaders are involved as investors (happened recently). The current leader of the SPÖ is from the left side of the party - which is not an advantage for them. And his election was a comedy of errors. The FPÖ is on the rise since the 80ies in reality. Praying on xenophobia, fears, discontent and all sorts of negative emotions. They have replaced the SPÖ (social democrats) as the "working man's party" and they are the go-to populist party to vote for if you are feed up with politics. They managed to mobilize non-voters in the last election, they used social media the most and their current leader (sorry to say this) is very smart. They get to reap the rewards of the hardships that Austrians have lived through since 2020 (covid, high inflation) without having to present real solutions. It's enough for them to point a PoC and say "they are going to sell drugs to your kids" or something and human psychology does the rest of the trick... Also Austrians are simply moving to the right. Ethno-nationalism is being normalized again (this is not yet mainstream, but we are moving there) and friendly stereotypes are turning into racist scapegoating. The basis for this is (of course) a constant rise in wealth inequality.

[@communist754]

These things are too uncomfortable to spell out loud

[@jason8077]

Desperate people find desperate solutions who can blame who?

[@haskalah]

you need a format for the youth. Don't leave that theater for the far right!

[@adrianarchie]

Not far right. Just right by far.

[@bagortenay1822]

nice

[@georgesos]

Decent people do not vote for nazi reprints. Decent people always side with the weak,the poor,the needy. Austria is racist deep inside. The pretentiousness doesn't make racism disappear.

[@hyraxdo]

Not just Österreich, I would add. Hisory is repeating itself, ...not as a farce indeed🙉

[@BjornFlower-qx9ur]

Why always these labels, e.g.far right???

[@thechri5357]

What does "far right" mean? Do they want to reinstate race laws or something?

[@DoctorOzelot]

No. But they flirt with ethno nationalism. They blame most social problems on immigration/foreigners. This includes Austrian citizens with ethnically diverse backgrounds.

[@johnmonrow9981]

@@DoctorOzelot So what is wrong with that if it is true?

[@Polit_Burro]

@@johnmonrow9981 Why don't you try asking a Palestinian?

[@thechri5357]

@@DoctorOzelot well Europe has a problem with immigration and they point that out no? Trump points out that there is a border problem, which there defenitely is. But that doesn't mean that race plays a part in their politics.

[@markkeogh2190]

@@johnmonrow9981just own your fascism and stop trolling.

[@craftsman40]

In other words, Austria is so not democratic. The number 1 does not necessarily get the top job despite the mandate. Weird!

[@marksmit8112]

Under MMP in NZ the party with the top party and constituents vote (number of Parliament seats) gets to chose coalition partners through agreements and confidence and supply.

[@markkeogh2190]

It’s not weird. They got 29 per cent of the vote. No democratic country would have a party rule by themselves with 29 pc.

[@craftsman40]

In the Philippines, it's winner takes all. One can be president with 20% plurality. So far it's 1987 Constitution has withstood the test of time.

[@dftp]

​@@craftsman40That voting system got you a mass murderer as president a couple years ago who killed dozens of innocent children just because he thought they were drug dealers.

[@marksmit8112]

@@craftsman40 Undemocratic FPP system in Philippines

[@JamesFox1]

Sounds Just Like """ The Balfour Declaration """

[@Polit_Burro]

ethno nationalism is pretty monochrome

[@ksechsneun]

It's really hard to listen to people who are constantly trying to wrap their heads around this topic! We have to come to terms with our history: we never denazified our countries and therefore, and in many other cases which goes beyond the material level, we never civilized! And it doesn't really make a difference from which perspective you try to see it...left or right? Two cheeks of the same a...!!!

[@cat_terrell]

Thank you for that Truth✊🏼

[@mkh4lili]

I struggle to accept that as an explanation. Because it doesn't add up: when you look at the broad range of support that the FPO received, you can’t claim all these people are nazis. But also because it’s a defeatist analysis. If Austria is simply full of nazis, there are no more constructive steps that anyone can take to bring about a different future for it.

[@romanwong5785]

Force always has an equal counterforce. That‘s physics or universal law. Currently it plays out like that: The more the left tries to enforce their ideals the more some others will feel dispelled and drawn to the other direction. The universe will always strive for balance.

[@dftp]

This is pseudo-intellectual hogwash. The laws of physics have no such bearing on politics. This surge of the far right has nothing to do with leftists "enforcing their ideals" too much or whatever. I mean that hasn't even happened, most leftists have pivoted further towards the center except for maybe the communists (who are inconsequential in federal elections). The short and simple answer to where this surge of the far right came from is the continued incompetence and lethargy of the mainstream parties combined with the fact that there is no viable left alternative and there is still the underlying and significant racism, xenophobia and conservatism in the Austrian people who tried to genocide half of europe just a couple generations ago.

[@Camcolito]

Thanks Lao Tzu.

[@cat_terrell]

​@@Camcolitolol

[@Polit_Burro]

LOL The word you are looking for is "dialetics'. I think there's few things as hilarious as angry rightwing Americans trying to 'critique' materialist analysis without having the understanding, or even the vocabulary to do so credibly.

[@marksmit8112]

🐒