Is the European Union Afraid of the Dark?

Anti-immigration parties are gaining ground overseas.

Fear of Black Europe? - Far-right parties with anti-immigration policies have won a greater number of seats in this year's European Union election than those in the past. What could this mean for African immigration during a time when the fear of a Black Europe has gotten international attention? (Photo: Olga Rozenbajgier/Corbis)

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Fear of Black Europe? - Far-right parties with anti-immigration policies have won a greater number of seats in this year's European Union election than those in the past. What could this mean for African immigration during a time when the fear of a Black Europe has gotten international attention? (Photo: Olga Rozenbajgier/Corbis)

Photo: Olga Rozenbajgier/Corbis

What Is the European Union? - The European Union is a supranational network of 28 countries in Europe that work together through an economic and political partnership. It was formed after WWII to help prevent future conflict. More than 700 members make up the directly elected European Parliament. (Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)

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What Is the European Union? - The European Union is a supranational network of 28 countries in Europe that work together through an economic and political partnership. It was formed after WWII to help prevent future conflict. More than 700 members make up the directly elected European Parliament. (Photo: PA PHOTOS /LANDOV)

European Immigration  - Some members of the European Union have shown opposition to its immigration policy. These members (mostly from the far-right) call for stricter border controls. (Photo: Courtesy of the University of Texas)

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European Immigration  - Some members of the European Union have shown opposition to its immigration policy. These members (mostly from the far-right) call for stricter border controls. (Photo: Courtesy of the University of Texas)

Photo: Courtesy of the University of Texas

Recent Elections - On May 25, 21 countries voted for their representatives in the European Parliament. Party members from the far-right gained ground. Many of these parties carry with them strong anti-immigration policies. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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Recent Elections - On May 25, 21 countries voted for their representatives in the European Parliament. Party members from the far-right gained ground. Many of these parties carry with them strong anti-immigration policies. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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National Front Leader Marine Le Pen - Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front party (which multiplied its seats in France's representation by more than seven times this election) is known for her anti-immigration/EU policies.During a presidential campaign, Le Pen once said, "French citizenship should be either inherited or merited." (Photo: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)

UK Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage - The UK Independence Party increased its votes in the United Kingdom by 10 percent this election. Party leader Nigel Farage is known for his euro-skepticism and is currently underfire for allegedly misleading voters about immigration. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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UK Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage - The UK Independence Party increased its votes in the United Kingdom by 10 percent this election. Party leader Nigel Farage is known for his euro-skepticism and is currently underfire for allegedly misleading voters about immigration. (Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Danish Peoples' Party Leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl - The Danish People's party is another anti-immigration/EU party. This party snagged 26.7 percent of Denmark's seats. Leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl has held a position within the party since 1995. (Photo: Francis Joseph Dean/Deanpictures/Corbis)

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Danish Peoples' Party Leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl - The Danish People's party is another anti-immigration/EU party. This party snagged 26.7 percent of Denmark's seats. Leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl has held a position within the party since 1995. (Photo: Francis Joseph Dean/Deanpictures/Corbis)

Photo: Francis Joseph Dean/Deanpictures/Corbis

Austria's Freedom Party Leader Heinz-Christian Strache - Austria's Freedom Party took 20 percent of the vote with a campaign that included anti-immigrant policies strengthened in the 1980s by former leader Jorg Haider, who governed on an anti-immigration, anti-Muslim, anti-EU platform until he left in 2005. Current leader Heinz-Christian Strache is known for his anti-immigration sentiments and has even said Europe runs the risk of becoming a "conglomerate of negroes ... where chaos multiplies [through] mass immigration." (Photo: LISI NIESNER/Reuters/Corbis)

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Austria's Freedom Party Leader Heinz-Christian Strache - Austria's Freedom Party took 20 percent of the vote with a campaign that included anti-immigrant policies strengthened in the 1980s by former leader Jorg Haider, who governed on an anti-immigration, anti-Muslim, anti-EU platform until he left in 2005. Current leader Heinz-Christian Strache is known for his anti-immigration sentiments and has even said Europe runs the risk of becoming a "conglomerate of negroes ... where chaos multiplies [through] mass immigration." (Photo: LISI NIESNER/Reuters/Corbis)

African Immigration - Africans often migrate to Europe for better opportunities. A BBC article depicting data from 2007 shows a better quality of life in Europe as opposed to Sub-Saharan Africa. This year, more than 42,000 Africans were en-route to Italy. And a report from Frontex says that 40,000 African Migrants arrived to Europe in 2013. (Photo: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

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African Immigration - Africans often migrate to Europe for better opportunities. A BBC article depicting data from 2007 shows a better quality of life in Europe as opposed to Sub-Saharan Africa. This year, more than 42,000 Africans were en-route to Italy. And a report from Frontex says that 40,000 African Migrants arrived to Europe in 2013. (Photo: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

About That Fear of Black Europe - Racism in Europe is on the rise, according to CNBC. “The notion of being overwhelmed by an 'other' who threatens one’s distinct way of life is an aspect of political paranoia that has long existed. The ‘Black Europe’ fear is an interesting rhetorical trope but is more of a linguistic cue for foreigners writ large, in my opinion," said political scientist Peter V. Rajsingh.  (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)

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About That Fear of Black Europe - Racism in Europe is on the rise, according to CNBC. “The notion of being overwhelmed by an 'other' who threatens one’s distinct way of life is an aspect of political paranoia that has long existed. The ‘Black Europe’ fear is an interesting rhetorical trope but is more of a linguistic cue for foreigners writ large, in my opinion," said political scientist Peter V. Rajsingh.  (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/GettyImages)

Political Scientist Michael J. Laver Weighs In - "The strong possibility is that the existing center-right parties in these countries will move to the right [in the next national elections] to head off the challenge from these anti-EU parties, and one way to do that is to get tougher in immigration in general, from both inside and outside the EU. [...] the only way they can make immigration policy more restrictive is to tighten it up for immigrants from outside the EU, including those from Africa." Laver is a politics professor at New York University. (Photo: Courtesy of Michael J. Laver)

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Political Scientist Michael J. Laver Weighs In - "The strong possibility is that the existing center-right parties in these countries will move to the right [in the next national elections] to head off the challenge from these anti-EU parties, and one way to do that is to get tougher in immigration in general, from both inside and outside the EU. [...] the only way they can make immigration policy more restrictive is to tighten it up for immigrants from outside the EU, including those from Africa." Laver is a politics professor at New York University. (Photo: Courtesy of Michael J. Laver)

Political Scientist Peter V. Rajsingh - "Anti-immigration sentiment is not necessarily specifically targeted at sub-Saharan Africa – it encompasses positions against Eastern Europeans, Turks, North Africans, Asians, etc., as well.  Immigrants are perceived or portrayed as being major recipients of welfare while not being productive citizens. So the view is that they are a drain upon resources that would otherwise flow to citizens." (Photo: Courtesy of Peter V. Rajsingh)

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Political Scientist Peter V. Rajsingh - "Anti-immigration sentiment is not necessarily specifically targeted at sub-Saharan Africa – it encompasses positions against Eastern Europeans, Turks, North Africans, Asians, etc., as well.  Immigrants are perceived or portrayed as being major recipients of welfare while not being productive citizens. So the view is that they are a drain upon resources that would otherwise flow to citizens." (Photo: Courtesy of Peter V. Rajsingh)