How Effective is the Cordon Sanitaire? Lessons from Efforts to Contain the Far Right in Belgium, France, Denmark and Norway

Abstract

This article aims (1) to describe and classify alternative strategic responses to successful extremist parties and (2) to draw inferences about the relative success of alternative anti-extremist strategies from the experiences of four European countries. While it is evident that no single strategy holds the key to combating the far right, the evidence from Belgium, France, Denmark, and Norway suggests that so-called „constructive engagement” strategies have led—and therefore can lead—to greater success than „clean hands” strategies. „Doing the right thing” by erecting a cordon sanitaire around a far right party—as has been done most dramatically in Antwerp—may be politically correct, may adhere to the advice of most anti-racism groups, and may give mainstream politicians the ability to present their clean hands to the voters, but „doing the right thing” often yields unintended and undesired consequences.