Resurgence of Nationalism in Europe in the Shadow of the Russia-Ukraine War: A Critical Analysis

The Russia-Ukraine war has triggered a renewed surge of nationalism across Europe, both at the national and continental levels. The rise of right-wing populist parties—including Matteo Salvini’s Lega in Italy, France’s National Rally, and Hungary’s Fidesz—is a clear manifestation of this trend. In the wake of the war, Europe is undergoing a visible political shift: individual states are placing greater emphasis on national sovereignty at the expense of deeper European integration. This shift is most pronounced in Eastern Europe, where countries have begun to invest more heavily in their own defense to safeguard national independence and sovereign decision-making, rather than relying solely on the European Union or NATO for security. At the same time, widespread anxieties over the future—driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, concerns about cultural identity, and high levels of immigration—are fueling nationalist and populist sentiment, heightening the risk of political tensions reminiscent of the early 20th century. This study draws primarily on secondary data to examine these developments. It employs Neorealism and Regional Security Complex Theory as analytical frameworks. Both theories underscore how instability in one part of Europe reverberates across the entire continent’s security architecture—precisely what the Russia-Ukraine war has laid bare.