The Conflict Between European Identity and Right-Wing Populism: From the Identity Crisis to Political Turmoil

The idea of the "European Union" is based not only on the efforts of European states to create a new political entity, but also on the understanding of building a European identity and preserving European values. However, the economic crises, migration waves, and global uncertainties experienced particularly in the 21st century have rendered EU identity increasingly subject to serious questioning. The biggest obstacle to full integration into the European Union is the rise of right-wing populist movements, a factor that must be taken into account in European politics and which has been on the rise recently. The aim of this study is to analyze the friction between right-wing movements and European identity, and the resulting identity crisis in Europe. While the elements that constitute European identity are high values such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, right-wing and nationalist rhetoric is damaging the nature of these values and plunging European identity into a deep crisis. This conflict constitutes not only an identity crisis but also a political struggle that will shape the future of Europe. Therefore, examining the conflict between EU identity and right-wing populism is of great importance both academically and practically. This study adopts a literature review and an analytical approach in order to understand these dynamics and to propose possible solutions.