Geert Wilders and the rise of Dutch right-wing populism
Henk de Berg and political historian Koen Vossen discuss the biography and political ideology of controversial Dutch populist Geert Wilders
With his striking appearance and provocative anti-immigration statements, the Dutch politician Geert Wilders is one of Europe’s best-known and most controversial populist leaders.
But what exactly is his political ideology? And how did this initially moderate conservative come to embrace such extreme ideas?
Cultural theorist Henk de Berg explores these questions in conversation with the political historian Koen Vossen (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen), author of the critical study The Power of Populism: Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom. Henk de Berg is Professor of German at the University of Sheffield, a member of the Centre for Dutch and Flemish Studies, and the author of Trump and Hitler: A Comparative Study in Lying.
Credits
- Interviewer: Professor Henk de Berg (Professor of German and member of the Centre for Dutch and Flemish Studies at the University of Sheffield)
- Interviewee: Dr Koen Vossen (Political Historian at the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, Netherlands)
- Background Image: Geert WILDERS European Parliament