The Tribalization of Europe

Tribalization is a global megatrend in today’s world. The election of Donald Trump, the Brexit vote, populist movements like Catalan separatism – together with democratic backsliding in Central and Eastern Europe – are all examples of tribalization. Fuelled by anti-globalism and identity politics, tribalization is drawing up the drawbridge to the world. It is putting cultural differences before dialogue, collaboration and universal liberal values.

But tribalism is a dangerous road to go down. With it, argues Marlene Wind, we have put democracy itself in danger. Tribalism is not just about being pro-nation, anti-EU and anti-global. It is in many instances a bigger and more fundamental movement that casts aside the liberal democratic principles we once held in common.

At a time when former defenders of liberal values are increasingly silent or have even joined the growing chorus of tribalists, this book is a wakeup call. Drawing on a wide range of examples from the UK and the US to Spain, Hungary and Poland, Wind highlights the dangers of identity politics and calls on people to stand up for democracy and the rule of law. Preface
Introduction
Imagined Communities and Identity Politicsv Tribal thinking and dreams of detachment
Why Brexit is Just Another Kind of Tribalism
The Tribal Shift in Central and Eastern Europe
Who Cares About Democracy?
Who Are the People?
Democracy Without Limits?
Are Illiberal Democracies Democracies?
Why Liberals Are Increasingly on the Defensive, but Shouldn’t Be ‘The Tribalization of Europe is a hard-headed analysis of the turn towards narrow populist nationalism, as well as an impassioned defence of the liberal values needed to sustain a democratic political future.’
Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University

‘Marlene Wind has written an eloquent, magisterial and compelling warning: the degradation of democracy to extreme majoritarianism and adherence to the tribe (even if a tribe of citizens) fundamentally questions our common democratic values.’
Carlos Closa, European University Institute Marlene Wind is Professor of Politics at the University of Copenhagen.