Lucky Little Countries?
Freer and richer than almost anywhere else in the world, Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland would seem to have little to worry about. Yet all three have witnessed the rise of right-wing populist parties that are capitalizing on widespread resentment and fears.
AMSTERDAM – Western Europe’s small democracies have, on the whole, been exceptionally fortunate. Freer and richer than almost anywhere else in the world, countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland would seem to have little to worry about. This is why the world normally hears less about them than about Afghanistan, say, or Kosovo. Yet all three have been much in the news of late – and not for happy reasons.
AMSTERDAM – Western Europe’s small democracies have, on the whole, been exceptionally fortunate. Freer and richer than almost anywhere else in the world, countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland would seem to have little to worry about. This is why the world normally hears less about them than about Afghanistan, say, or Kosovo. Yet all three have been much in the news of late – and not for happy reasons.