https://video.echelon.pl/videos/watch/b18e097b-67c6-41e8-9125-28e698fe9048 Europe is seeing growing support for radical-right parties, rising political polarization and deepening frustration with mainstream politics – but does that mean fascism is back? In this episode of Warsaw Debate, experts argue over whether the success and normalization of Europe’s far right should be understood as a warning sign of fascism or as radical politics still operating within democratic rules. The debate explores the AfD, National Rally and other radical-right movements, the role of economic frustration and social media, and the question of where the line between populism, authoritarianism and fascism really lies. Is Europe already seeing the return of fascist political instincts – or is calling today’s radical right “fascist” an overstatement? In this episode of Warsaw Debate, experts argue over whether the success and normalization of Europe’s far right should be understood as a warning sign of fascism or as radical politics still operating within democratic rules. Guests: Jan Bartkowiak – President and Founder, Econverse Foundation; co-founder of AI Consensus at Minerva University “Fascism is indeed back, but not as a coherent political identity, instead a set of political instincts.” Wojciech Lewandowski – University of Warsaw, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies “Fascism, not as a political insult… but as the ideology fueling a certain set of human behaviors.” Karolina Borońska-Hryniewiecka – Professor, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences; Associate Professor, University of Wrocław “I don't want to say that Europe is safe. I just want to say that fascism is a risk, but it's not a settled reality yet.” Roger Griffin – Emeritus Professor of Modern History, Oxford Brookes University; leading scholar of fascism Griffin brings the historical perspective to the debate, examining what distinguishes fascism from contemporary populist and radical-right politics and asking whether Europe is witnessing fascism itself or a different political phenomenon. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 After AfD and Far-Right Gains: Can We Say Fascism Is Back? 04:26 Why Are Europeans Losing Trust in Mainstream Politics? 08:16 “Fascism Is Back in Europe” The Motion: Arguments For and Against 10:37 “Perfect Grounds for Fascism to Grow”: Is Europe Losing Trust in Its Institutions? 12:33 Fascism as an Ideology – Not Just a Political Insult – Who can be called fascists today? 16:41 Radical Right, Anti-Immigration Politics and Fascism: Where Is the Line? 19:15 “Where Are We in This Process?” Is It Already Too Late to Stop Fascism? 24:58 Young People, Economic Frustration and the Rise of Radical Politics 27:45 France, Italy, Spain, Poland: What Could the 2027 Elections Change? 30:02 Social Media, Algorithms and the “Battle of Narratives” 33:41 Is the Word “Fascism” Being Overused? 35:35 What Would Be the Breaking Point for Calling It Fascism? 39:00 “Don’t Implement a Firewall." How Do You Stop Extremism Without Silencing Debate? 44:17 Roger Griffin: What Is Fascism – And How Is It Different From the Far Right or Far Left? 48:40 Final Audience Vote: Did Opinions Change? Warsaw Debate is TVP World’s Oxford-style debate program, hosted by Małgorzata Bonikowska of the Centre for International Relations and Grzegorz Nawrocki of TVP World, bringing experts together to argue both sides of the defining political questions shaping Europe and the world. 🔴 Watch our 24/7 livestream - https://youtube.com/live/9RY46AUtIl4 Bringing you all the latest daily news and updates, TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find world news as seen from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. https://tvpworld.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tvpworldcom https://twitter.com/TVPWorld_com https://www.instagram.com/tvp_world/ https://www.threads.net/@tvp_world https://bsky.app/profile/tvpworld.bsky.social https://www.tiktok.com/@tvpworld.com https://t.me/tvp_world Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:51:23 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://video.echelon.pl https://video.echelon.pl/client/assets/images/icons/icon-1500x1500.png https://video.echelon.pl/videos/watch/b18e097b-67c6-41e8-9125-28e698fe9048 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://video.echelon.pl/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.