Orbán's departure won't end European racism because it's structurally embedded in EU institutions and policies
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/shada-islam. "Orbán may be gone, but his prejudices are now baked into the European political mainstream | Shada Islam | The Guardian." April 27, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that getting rid of Viktor Orbán won't solve Europe's racism problem because racism isn't just about bad individuals - it's built into how European institutions, laws, and policies actually work. She points to examples like how Europe treats Ukrainian refugees better than African refugees, and how EU leaders use fancy language to hide basically the same anti-immigrant attitudes Orbán expressed openly.
Conclusion
Viktor Orbán's removal from EU politics will not eliminate racism in Europe because racist logic is structurally embedded in European institutions, policies, and systems rather than being the product of individual bad actors
Premises
- Racism is structural rather than individual - it's woven into laws, political systems, economic systems, and social systems across Europe
- EU migration policies demonstrate racial hierarchies by treating white Ukrainian refugees differently than black and brown refugees from other regions
- Mainstream European leaders like Merz, Frederiksen, and von der Leyen have normalized deportations and anti-migration rhetoric using technocratic language
- EU foreign policy exhibits 'us and them' narratives, such as praising Ukrainian women while ignoring Palestinian women's struggles
- Current EU institutions remain 'overwhelmingly Eurocentric and white' despite having some leaders of minority heritage
- European racism has historical roots in colonialism and the slave trade that created lasting racial hierarchies and 'superior white race' arguments
Assumptions
- Structural racism is more significant and persistent than individual racism
- Policy language and framing reveal underlying racist attitudes even when not explicitly stated
- Historical colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary European attitudes and policies
- Demographic representation in institutions reflects and perpetuates systemic biases
- Without acknowledging historical racism, Europe cannot address current racist structures