By Poonam Sharma
Europe, long the stronghold of liberal democracy and free speech, is experiencing a deep-seated change—one that more and more undermines its original principles. In its fervent quest for tolerance, the continent is now strangely embracing intolerance, particularly against voices of dissent. Free speech, the cornerstone of democratic nations, is being progressively restricted in the name of preventing hate speech, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring political correctness.
The essence of the problem is the paradox that Europe is currently living: in the spirit of inclusion, it is excluding. The room for free discussion is diminishing, and rather than encouraging pluralistic views, institutions are more and more policing thought and speech. Citizens—particularly those who question mainstream narratives on gender, identity, or immigration—are being censored, excluded, or even criminalized.
This cultural transformation has a chilling similarity to past episodes of civilizational collapse. The downfall of ancient Rome, commonly blamed on corruption from within, is a useful analogy. Ancient Rome prospered from pluralism, but its stability depended on the unassailable power of its ruling classes. As elites lost control and institutions crumbled, Rome’s integrity fell apart. Today, in Europe, a corresponding breakdown of moral and institutional definition is occurring.
Where in the past Europe’s narrative was formed around Enlightenment values and Christian morals, now a predominant ideology is a fusion of liberal leftism and a rather anomalous sensitivity towards Islamist sensibilities. Christianity, as an intrinsic force of European identity for so long, now finds itself at the sidelines, even derided, with extremist readings of Islam frequently sheltered from reproach for fear of offending minority opinion.
By not establishing limits against truly intolerant ideologies, liberal democracies stand to become auteurs of their own destruction. With their efforts to be tolerant of all systems of belief, European institutions are inadvertently strengthening those that oppose fundamental democratic values.
The costs of this error are not theoretical—they are there for all to see in tragic and preventable disappointments. Take the years-long dismissal of the grooming gang scandal in the UK, where thousands of white children were sexually abused by mostly Pakistani Muslim men. Officials remained silent for years, fearing accusations of racism or Islamophobia if they tried to stop them. In this case, tolerance was used as cover for criminal inactivity.
At the same time, democratic norms have also eroded politically. In France, Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally and a leading political figure, was sentenced to four years in prison (two suspended) and prohibited from holding public office for five years on charges of misuse of European Union funds. Although the allegations might have some basis in law, the timing and severity have caused eyebrows to be raised. Le Pen, a staunch critic of the establishment, called the ruling a “democratic scandal.”
Likewise, Romanian pro-Russian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu was removed from running in elections by the central election committee on grounds of violating democratic rules. His partisans view it as a politicized move aimed at increasing disillusionment with the electoral process. Critics say it is symptomatic of a developing trend: making use of the judiciary to marginalize political foes instead of putting them to contest in the marketplace of ideas.
Elon Musk, weighing in on the events, equated them to the legal persecution of then-US President Donald Trump. “When the radical left can’t win through democratic ballot, they misuse the legal system to imprison their opponents,” Musk posted on X. His remarks echo many who notice increasing trendlines of lawfare—utilizing the law not to provide justice, but to quash dissension.
This path follows in the footsteps of George Orwell’s dystopian prophecies in 1984, in which “doublethink” and “thought crime” reigned over a society that criminalized private thought and dissidence. Today, numerous European countries have enacted broad hate speech and misinformation legislation that criminalizes speech on contentious issues such as gender identity, immigration policy, and national sovereignty. While aimed at guarding vulnerable groups, these statutes too often blur the distinction between hate and honest opinion, suppressing legitimate discussion in the process.
Europe is at a perilous crossroads. Its democratic heritage, forged over centuries of fighting for civil liberties and individual freedoms, is being silently eroded under the burden of political correctness and ideological uniformity. The guarantee of tolerance has evolved into a tool of censorship. If citizens and institutions do not reclaim the space for free expression, Europe will become a cautionary tale—a continent that lost liberty in its pursuit of seeming virtuous.
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