- Europe, in the name of tolerance, has become too intolerant and, in the name of inclusion, is now practicing exclusion.
- Europe is slowly marching toward the point where curtailing free speech will become the new norm in the name of controlling hate speech.
- A similar pattern is emerging today, with leftist-Islamist ideology gaining dominance while Christianity is increasingly marginalized.
The decline of societies throughout history is often reflected in the actions and decisions of their people. A striking example is the case of a young child expelled from a UK nursery school after being accused of transphobia or homophobia by the authorities. Acclaimed author J.K. Rowling commented[1], “This is totalitarian insanity. If you think small children should be punished for being able to recognize sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them.”
Paradoxically, the fundamental tenets of democracy, especially free speech, are being suppressed under the guise of liberal progress. The incident mentioned above occurred three years ago when a kindergartener was suspended from a state school for “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity.”
What is even more frightening is that this was not an isolated case. During the same period, 94 students at state primary schools in England were suspended or even expelled for alleged transphobia and homophobia. It is clear that Western Europe, in the name of inclusion, is now practicing exclusion.
A Society in Decay
The above example highlights the societal decay in Europe, reminiscent of the decline of the Roman Empire, which dominated the continent for centuries. One of the primary reasons for the downfall of the Roman Empire, which was once called the “light of civilization,” was societal decay. The Romans developed a sophisticated legal system and built roads, aqueducts, bridges, and public buildings that were ahead of their time.
But the key difference between ancient Rome and today’s progressively left-leaning Europe is that Rome was pluralistic so long as its authority remained unchallenged. As Christianity gained ground in Europe, pagan temples were destroyed or repurposed, and traditional Roman religious institutions faded. Christianity became deeply authoritative, influencing laws and policies. A similar pattern is emerging today, with leftist-Islamist ideology gaining dominance while Christianity is increasingly marginalized.
Tolerating Intolerance for Political Correctness
Karl Popper, the 20th-century philosopher, introduced the “Paradox of Tolerance” in The Open Society and Its Enemies (1945), arguing that a society that tolerates intolerance will ultimately destroy itself. Europe, in the name of tolerance, has become too intolerant. In that process, it has allowed intolerant ideologies to spread unchecked, which will have serious ramifications shortly.
This is why a tolerant society must defend itself by refusing to tolerate intolerance, such as accommodating the whims of a minority that threatens the foundations of an open and free society. The West, in its utopian quest for equality, has taken its society to new heights of intolerance, leading to the disappearance of tolerance. It has extended unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant.
A notable example is the failure of the government to act when tens of thousands of girls fell victim to sexual grooming gangs of Pakistani Muslims in the UK. In the name of tolerance and democracy, Sharia law is now being accepted so that Muslim sentiments are not hurt. But what progressive liberals don’t realize is that Sharia law will also affect their lives in more ways than they can imagine, which the UK will experience soon.[2]
Vendetta Against Political Opponents
What is even more frightening is that in France, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), has been sentenced to four years in prison, two of which are suspended, and barred from seeking public office for five years for embezzling European Union funds during her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament[3]. Le Pen, the frontrunner in many polls to succeed Emmanuel Macron, has denounced the verdict as a “democratic scandal” and intends to appeal.
In Romania, the central election authority has also barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu from running in the May presidential election re-run. Romania’s Constitutional Court cited alleged violations of democratic norms, leading to protests from Georgescu’s supporters and heightened political tensions in this Balkan country.[4]
Elon Musk commented, “This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump.” On his X account, which he owns, Musk wrote, “When the radical left can’t win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world.”
Europe is slowly marching toward the point where curtailing free speech will become the new norm in the name of controlling hate speech. Already, some laws and policies restrict speech that should be protected.
Conclusion
In 1984, George Orwell wrote about “doublethink” and “thought crime,” where even private opinions, once made public, could lead to persecution. Many European countries have expanded laws against hate speech and misinformation, restricting speech on topics such as gender, immigration, and nationalism, raising concerns about the erosion of free expression.
References:
- [1] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/toddler-suspended-transphobia-nursery-b1219768.html
- [2] https://www.indiatoday.in/world/uk-news/story/sharia-court-uk-western-capital-islamic-council-rulings-divorce-marriage-national-secular-society-objection-2652954-2024-12-23
- [3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/31/marine-le-pen-allies-paris-court-2027-election-ban-elon-musk?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- [4] https://balkaninsight.com/2025/03/11/romanian-court-confirms-far-right-politicians-presidential-election-ban/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Dr Nanda Kishor 
Pranav S 
Shashank Pandey