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Supranational Identity Politics: Sovereignism in the EU

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Supranational Identity Politics: Sovereignism in the EU UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones December 2018 Supranational Identity Politics: Sovereignism in the EU Emilio Jacintho Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Political Science Commons, Public Policy Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Repository Citation Jacintho, Emilio, "Supranational Identity Politics: Sovereignism in the EU" (2018). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 3427. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/14279097 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SUPRANATIONAL IDENTITY POLITICS: SOVEREIGNISM IN THE EU By Emilio Jacintho Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2016 Bachelor of Arts - Psychology University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2016 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts - Anthropology Department of Anthropology College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2018 Copyright 2018 by Emilio Jacintho All Rights Reserved Thesis Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 26, 2018 This thesis prepared by Emilio Jacintho entitled Supranational Identity Politics: Sovereignism in the EU is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts - Anthropology Department of Anthropology Pierre Lienard, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Daniel Benyshek, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Alyssa Crittenden, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Christian Jensen, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii Abstract The implementation of identity politics policies conceived at a supranational level appears to motivate the coordination of populist movements, the radicalization of their discourses, and an increasing resentment towards minority groups. I investigate the reaction of populist sovereignist political movements, among recently admitted EU member states, to the implementation of European Union policies that involve the positive discrimination of minority groups and mandated refugee relocations. The implementation of such policies seems to have contributed to the resentment toward policy-favored minorities, the increase of anti-immigration values, the success of extremist political expressions, and the mistrust of political institutions and traditional parties. The research relies on a multiple case studies approach to identify the effects of the implementation of EU-mandated affirmative action and immigration policies. The political and economic landscapes of study cases, taken from post-communist Eastern Europe (primarily, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary), are described based on the existing literature. The general arguments are supported through a review of quantitative studies that incorporate regression analyses on electoral data and web content analysis. Arguments are also complemented by a review of World Bank, OECD and Eurostat reports, election results, as well as the theoretical literature on ethnic competition, welfare spending, multiculturalism, and the specifics of the political parties and systems of the selected countries. iii Table of Contents Abstract .....................................................................................................................................................(iii) Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................(iv) List of Figures.............................................................................................................................................(v) Party Catalogue..........................................................................................................................................(vi) Chapter 1 - Introduction: Historical &Theoretical Background.................................................................(1) I. National Sovereignty, Radicalism and Populism.........................................................,.............(1) II. Post-Communist Societies - A Historical Background...................................................,.........(6) III. Research Questions................................................................................................................(10) IV. Methodology..........................................................................................................................(11) V. Theoretical Background.........................................................................................................(14) Chapter 2 - National Sovereignty..............................................................................................................(22) I. Introduction................................................................................................................................(22) II. Slovakia……………………………………………………………....................…………….(32) III. Poland…...…………………………………………………………....................…………… (45) IV. Hungary……………………………………………………….…….............................………(59) Chapter 3 - The Resurgence of Radicalism ..............................................................................................(75) I. Features of Radicalism...............................................................................................................(75) II. Slovakia………………………………………………………………….....................……… (78) III. Poland………………………………………………………………….......................………. (84) IV. Hungary………………………………………………………........……..........................…….(90) Chapter 4 - Conclusion: Converging Evidence...................................................................................... (102) References ............................................................................................................................................ ( 119) Curriculum Vitae........................................................................................................................ (136) iv List of Figures Figure 1: Growth in Regional GDP (per capita) - Slovakia........................................................(38) Figure 2: Parliamentary Election Results (2015) by Region - Poland........................................(56) Figure 3: Relationship Between Immigration and Right-Wing Populist Vote Share...............(113) v Party Catalogue Slovakia Slovak National Party (SNS): right-wing, populist. Direction - Social Democracy (Smer - SD): center-left, social democrat. People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (L'S-HZDS): center-right. Kotleba - People's Party our Slovakia (L'SNS): radical-right, populist. We Are Family (Sme Rodina): center-right: populist. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS): libertarian. Bridge, Most-Hid (Most-Hid): center-right. Ordinary People (OL'aNO): center. Poland Law and Justice (PiS): right-wing, populist. League of Polish Families (LPR): right-wing, populist. Civic Platform (PO): center-left, social democrat. Democratic Left Alliance (SLD-UP): center-left. Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL): center-left. Kukiz'15 (Kukiz'15): right-wing, populist. Hungary Fidesz (Fidesz): center-right, right-wing, populist. Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP): center-left, populist. Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ): center, libertarian. Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF): center-right. Christian Democrat People's Party (KDNP): center-right. Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers, and Civic Party (FKgP): right-wing. Jobbik (Jobbik): right-wing, populist. vi Chapter 1 Introduction: Historical &Theoretical Background I. National Sovereignty, Radicalism and Populism Radical expressions of nationalism, like those often found among populist political platforms, have seen an uptick in popularity across both Western and Eastern Europe in recent years (Jones, 2007). New protectionist radical left and populist right parties have forcefully entered the political arenas of various European countries (Mudde, 2007; March 2012; Chiocchetti, 2016). What explains the increasing popularity of such movements? Might it be attributed to the EU- required implementation of minority-protection and free-market enhancing policies (e.g. redistributive social welfare, opening of borders, market integration)? What economic conditions contribute to the attractiveness of such political expressions? This research is an effort to explain why populist movements have been especially prolific in European politics in recent years, rising to the forefront of the political scenes in countries such as Hungary, Poland, the U.K., Austria and Sweden. I propose a theoretical template, which incorporates the economic precarity of citizens in these countries, the process of EU accession, and the EU's handling of certain issues like the refugee
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