Political Landscape Fragmented by Disputes Over Educational Policies

In recent years, a striking trend has emerged in Western Europe: the growing educational divide among voters and politicians. This divide, as evidenced by numerous studies and elections, has significant implications for the political landscape and social dynamics of the region.

One striking aspect of this divide is the preference of higher-educated individuals for green and social-liberal parties. As shown in Figure 2, these parties predominantly attract voters with high education levels. However, this trend poses a challenge for these parties, as they risk losing touch with less well-off parts of society. This concern was highlighted in the Netherlands, where about one third of the population is well-educated, one third has medium qualifications, and one third has primary qualifications only.

On the other hand, nationalist parties tend to draw large proportions of the low and medium-educated voters, as demonstrated in Figure 3. This was evident in the 2017 Dutch and German elections, where nationalist parties were more popular among the least and middle-educated, while university graduates supported parties like GroenLinks, D66, and Die Grüne. The same pattern was observed in the 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK, where regions with lower education qualifications voted more for Leave, while regions with a higher number of university graduates voted more for Remain.

The overrepresentation of university graduates in Parliament is another concern, leading to policy incongruence and political distrust. Less well-educated citizens show high levels of social distrust and political cynicism as a result. To bridge this divide, green and social liberal parties in Western Europe have considered harmonizing education structures through frameworks like the Bologna Process. This aims to standardize degree cycles and facilitate mobility and recognition across countries. They also advocate for inclusive and flexible policies that integrate diverse educational pathways and support equal access to education across social groups.

An alternative strategy for these parties is to engage with labor movements and other actors to ensure their cosmopolitanism leaves room for local concerns around international trade and labor issues. This approach could help address the concerns of the lesser educated, who are much more in favor of referenda than the well-educated.

Interestingly, this educational divide has replaced previous major divides such as social classes and religious groups, which was evident in the late 20th century educational expansion. Notable figures embodying this trend include Bart de Wever, leader of the N-VA in Flanders, a PhD student in history, and Pim Fortuyn, the charismatic leader of the LPF in the Netherlands, who was a part-time professor in sociology.

Globalisation and EU unification play out differently for lower and better educated parts of the population, with the university educated benefiting more. This trend has raised questions about the legitimacy of green and liberal parties as spokespersons for the less-well to do, as seen in the abolition of the advisory referendum in the Netherlands in February 2018.

In conclusion, the rising educational divide in Western Europe presents both opportunities and challenges for politics and society. It offers an opportunity for green and social-liberal parties to engage with diverse groups and address the concerns of the lesser educated. However, it also raises concerns about political distrust and policy incongruence, and the need for inclusive and flexible policies that support equal access to education across social groups.

Note: The article is based on the facts provided in the bullet points and does not include opinions or unrelated information.