NL ELECTIONS 2025 - "WOKENESS"

 

THE NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER ELECTIONS 

 POLITICAL PARTIES POSITIONS EVALUATIONS:

 

PARTY "WOKENESS"

A EUROPE-IS-US ANALYSIS, supported by MISTRAL.ai; September 8, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Here is an experimental classification of major Dutch political parties along the "Woke" (equity-focused, identity-conscious, systemic justice) to "Formalist Egalitarianism" (procedural fairness, individual agency, resistance to group-based redress) scale, based on their current platforms and public positions as of 2025. This classification is informed by the operational definitions from the previous report [Defining woke for policy classification]  and acknowledges the Dutch context, where cultural and historical factors may influence the applicability of these terms.

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Dutch Political Parties on the
Woke–Formalist Egalitarianism Scale

PARTY	Score (1–10)	Key Policy Indicators	Remarks
DENK	9–10 (Woke)	Advocates for multiculturalism, migrant rights, anti-racism, and explicit inclusion of marginalized groups.	Focuses on systemic discrimination and historical redress for minority communities.
GroenLinks–PvdA	7–8	Strong on social justice, environmentalism, multiculturalism, and progressive DEI policies.	Supports affirmative action, anti-discrimination laws, and intersectional approaches.
SP	6–7	Emphasizes social justice, workers' rights, and solidarity; less explicit on identity politics.	More class-focused, but supports anti-discrimination and inclusive social policies.
D66	5–6	Liberal, pro-equality, supports individual freedoms and rule of law; open to targeted inclusion policies.	Balances progressive social policies with liberal individualism.
ChristenUnie	4–5	Christian values, social justice, but cautious on identity politics; supports inclusion in some areas.	Mixes progressive social policies with conservative cultural values.
Volt Nederland	5	Pro-European, socially liberal, supports civil liberties and inclusion, but less explicit on systemic justice.	Focuses on European integration and individual rights.
CDA	3–4	Center-right, Christian democratic; supports social solidarity but resists group-based redress.	Emphasizes family, community, and traditional values over identity-conscious policies.
VVD	2–3	Economically liberal, center-right; opposes affirmative action, supports meritocracy and formal equality.	Historically resistant to "woke" policies, but not as extreme as PVV or BBB.
JA21	2	Conservative liberal, strict on immigration, emphasizes individual freedom and Dutch cultural preservation.	Opposes "woke" policies, supports formal equality and assimilation.
BBB	2	Focuses on rural interests, Dutch cultural preservation, and resistance to progressive social policies.	Opposes DEI mandates and identity politics.
PVV	1–2	Nationalist, anti-immigration, anti-Islam; strongly opposes "woke" policies and multiculturalism.	Advocates for Dutch cultural and national sovereignty, rejects systemic justice frameworks.
FvD	1 (Formalist Egalitarianism)	Far-right, anti-establishment, opposes all forms of "woke" policy, including climate and DEI initiatives.	Rejects intersectionality, affirmative action, and historical redress.

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Key Observations and Caveats

• Cultural Context: The Dutch political landscape is shaped by a strong tradition of formal equality, consensus politics, and a pragmatic approach to social issues. The term "woke" is less polarized than in the U.S., and even progressive parties often frame their policies in terms of "inclusion" and "anti-discrimination" rather than systemic justice or reparations.
• Legal Framework: The Netherlands has robust anti-discrimination laws and allows for affirmative action in specific cases (e.g., underrepresentation of women or minorities), but there is no broad-based reparations or equity mandate as seen in some U.S. contexts. The Dutch Equal Treatment Act permits preferential treatment only if it aims to reduce de facto inequalities and is proportionate.
• Coalition Dynamics: Dutch parties rarely govern alone, so their positions are often moderated in coalition agreements. For example, even center-left parties may soften their stance on identity politics to form governments with center-right or liberal parties.
• Recent Shifts: The rise of far-right and populist parties (PVV, BBB, FvD) has pushed the political center further toward formalist egalitarianism, especially on issues of migration, national identity, and cultural preservation.
• Progressive Alliances: The merger of GroenLinks and PvdA reflects an effort to consolidate the left and counter the rightward shift, but their platform remains more focused on social democracy and environmentalism than on explicit "woke" policiesapnews.com+1.

Limitations

• Terminology: The Dutch political discourse does not use "woke" or "formalist egalitarianism" as native terms. This classification is an analytical construct and may not perfectly align with how parties self-identify.
• Policy Nuance: Some parties (e.g., D66, ChristenUnie) blend elements from both ends of the scale, making strict classification challenging.
• Regional Variation: Local and municipal branches of parties may adopt different emphases, especially in diverse urban areas.

REFERENCE

https://europe-is-us.blogspot.com/2025/09/framework-for-defining-woke-as-policy.html