During the Second World War the Netherlands tried to assert its neutrality – but they were over-run by Hitler’s army in any case. With its own substantial nazi party, many of the Dutch people turned out to welcome the invaders.
This most seemingly liberal of all countries has always collectively harboured a covert love for far-right politics and next March, the polls suggest, they are likely to elect the Party for Freedom (PVV). The party leader, and probable next Dutch Prime Minister, is a person who prides himself on his anti-EU and racist views. Geert Wilders has been prosecuted several times for racist remarks and last time was found guilty. But this only further fueled his popularity.
If successful in the general election, the Netherlands will undoubtedly be the next country to file an Article 50 application to leave the EU. It is also likely that anti-discrimination laws will be relaxed and, given Wilders declared hatred of the judiciary, even the rule of law replaced by more totalitarian methods of keeping social order.
Multinational companies have always been able to skirt round politics to function in a wide range of regimes. But HR’s role as the embodiment of corporate conscience functions least well under right-wing dictatorships, even when they are elected. Moreover, being outside the EU will be as disastrous for the Netherlands as it will be for Britain. Unpredictable and arbitrary legal systems may open up the way to hiring and firing at will and allowing certain ethnic or religious groups, the disabled and women to be treated as an underclass, but in such environments there is little need for HRM.
Please note that the comments made in this section are entirely the personal views of the Secretary-General and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federation or any of its members.