Ukraine
persist. But it is uncertain whether, and to what extent, Svoboda will reform, both inside and outside the realm of parliamentary politics. If it proves incapable of tempering its ideology and its policy proposals, ways must be found to contain it. Otherwise, the party is likely to do lasting harm to the country. What kinds of internal reforms might we expect from Svoboda? To enter the mainstream, Svoboda should serve the public interest and concentrate on delivering results congruent with its electoral promises. It will also have to abandon its chauvinism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia, which will be difficult, since those are core elements of the party’s ideology. Externally, in order to be accepted in Europe, Svoboda must change enough that it can no longer be labeled a far-right extremist party. Until that time, other opposition forces should cease cooperating with Svoboda, as part of a “carrot and stick” approach to induce reform in the party. As the European economic and social crisis continues, the rise of right-wing extremism and Europhobia will be accompanied by mounting social and workers’ protests. However, the idea of a unified Europe is predicated not only on its common market, but also on pan-European solidarity, which transcends geographic and ethnic divisions. If European integration is Ukraine’s priority, these caveats need to be borne in mind.35 To this end, Ukraine’s European partners will have to be patient and engage in continuing dialogue with the country.
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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/04/20124185250195670.html.
RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM IN EUROPE