Yōroppa no tayō-sei Tagen shugi kara popyurizumu e

Diversity and pluralism have always been central values in Europe. The Council of Europe is founded on the core values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which it sees as “the common heritage” of its Member States. The European Union (EU) is similarly founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Although important aims of the EU are close cooperation and further integration, including free movement and the establishment of an internal market, the EU should also respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, as is confirmed in the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights.
Although continuously proclaimed and upheld by these European intergovernmental organisations, it seems that the values of diversity and pluralism have lost popular support in the Member States. The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe warned that many European societies today appear less protective of their pluralism and more accepting of populism.
The increased support for populism is often connected to the growing discontent by many people with globalization and its economic setbacks. It has however also been argued that the rise of populism is just as much caused by social and cultural issues, such as the decline of traditional cultural and religious identification and large-scale immigration have changed societies and have given rise to fear, racism, and xenophobia. Populist movements and parties respond to these fears by rejecting immigration and by criticizing pluralism. Are countries in Europe, the region that was founded on the values of democracy, human rights and pluralism, indeed moving away from pluralism in the direction of populism?