Bates College Journal of Political Studies
Abstract
In recent decades, the European continent has seen more and more anti-Western populist parties emerge and gain a loyal following. Many of these parties support extremist narratives that reject both international cooperation as well as racial and religious tolerance. In eastern and central Europe in particular, many parties of this nature have begun to both gain popularity and also use the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to push an anti-NATO and anti-European Union narrative that seems to strike a chord with many European voters. A textbook example of one of these parties is the Smer-Social Democracy party of Slovakia. Slovakia, like many other former Eastern Bloc states, underwent a substantial post-communist transition process that had lasting impacts on the nation, and particularly its voter base.
Through examination of Slovakia’s post-communist transition, it is clear that this transition created an environment where a populist party like Smer could thrive. This type of extreme political discourse fosters an environment where political violence, like the attempt on Smer frontman and Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, can take place. Foreign policy is a major concern of these modern right-wing populist parties, and Smer specifically aligns itself with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which has major implications on the global stage.
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Recommended Citation
Giller, Augustus
(2025)
"SMER, Anti-Western Populism, and Political Violence in Post-Communist Slovakia,"
Bates College Journal of Political Studies: Vol. 1:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://scarab.bates.edu/bjps/vol1/iss1/3