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For the past few years, the European Union has witnessed a vast increase in support towards populist movements. Although this phenomenon has been classified as a severe concern by the conventional political scene and a threat to democracy, the tendency has not slowed down and the situation continues to aggravate.
Migration and the refugee crisis have undoubtedly been key points of the debate. The economic part, while relevant, has nearly faded into smoke with the end of the Euro crisis and the return to generally successful improvement of macroeconomic indicators across the European Union countries. However, it is necessary to pay extra attention to the economy’s structure and its political implications.
The purpose of this analysis is to emphasize the role of political alienation, appearing through economic inequality and, more precisely, as a consequence of the situation of the labor market, in the rise of populism. Furthermore, it attempts to stress the urgency of preparing for imminent changes in the labor market as a strategy for containing the spread of those populist movements, which are threatening the European upholding ideologies.
