Fantasy and reality in the political thinking of modern Europe

The article analyzes the political reality of modern Europe. The migration crisis, terroristic attacks in Paris and Brussels have led to protests and the strengthening of the ultra-right-wing parties in the European society. We have to admit that in the political reality of Europe there is a conflict of identity politics and the politics of tolerance, a conflict of democratic values and the values of liberalism. This tension is a result of the policy of liberalism. The phenomenon of political nostalgia has been activated in the European political thinking, which gives rise to the myth of the blessed past of Europe. Does this really mean that the era of progressive, liberal Europe is ending? Maybe Europe needs new leaders, who formulate a request for a new political elite? The victory of the Eurosceptic right candidate Norbert Hofer in the first round of presidential elections in Austria in 2016 is a clear evidence that the request for the right-wing politicians in Europe is great. The fraction in the European Parliament entitled «Europe of Nations and Freedom» (2015) unites MPs from far-right European parties. Predicting the imminent end of the project of the United Europe, this group is opposed to the policy of the EU and advocates the revival of the European nation-states.