Comparing radical left parties’ positions on Ukraine and Israel: between Russophilia and anti-Semitism?
Author(s)
Publication Name
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Abstract
We provide a comparative analysis of how European radical left parties (RLPs) politicise the Israel – Palestine and Russia – Ukraine conflicts. Examining the positions of 25 RLPs, we test four hypotheses examining variation in Israel-hostility, Russia-related stances, cross-conflict coherence, and the dynamics of war fatigue. Patterns of politicisation are complex and there is no unified party family response. We show that while no RLP is Israel-friendly, levels of Israel-hostility vary substantially and tend to intensify as the Gaza war persists. By contrast, positions on Russia – Ukraine remain deeply divided, with no linear shift towards Russia-friendliness. Ideological subtype shapes, but does not determine, party responses, while broader contextual factors, most notably the ‘Trump effect’, repoliticise questions of European security. However, further politicisation is limited by the weakness of cross-conflict coherence. Several parties express consistent anti-imperialist logic in their response, but most disaggregate their critiques. RLP foreign policy emerges as ideologically-driven but contextually responsive.
Topics
Attitudes to Israel Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Political Parties Politics Main Topic: Other Ukraine-Russia war (since 2014)
Genre
Geographic Coverage
Original Language
Volume/Issue
48(2)
Page Number / Article Number
289-310
DOI
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Link to article (paywalled), Comparing radical left parties’ positions on Ukraine and Israel: between Russophilia and anti-Semitism?
Bibliographic Information
Comparing radical left parties’ positions on Ukraine and Israel: between Russophilia and anti-Semitism?. 2026: 289-310. https://archive.jpr.org.uk/10.1080/07036337.2026.2616337
