Understanding the 'Deep State' in European Political Debate

The concept of the 'deep state' (État profond) has become a contested theme in recent European political discourse, reflecting concerns about hidden networks of power outside democratic control. The term originated from the Turkish "derin devlet," describing clandestine alliances between state actors and criminal groups in the 1990s. This idea has since spread across Europe and the United States, where former President Donald Trump popularized the term by alleging opposition from entrenched bureaucrats to his administration, encapsulated in his "drain the swamp" campaign slogan.

In Europe, the notion is invoked to describe covert state actors undermining elected officials, with examples such as Hungary's hybrid regime under Viktor Orbán concentrating power and controlling the media and educational institutions. Similar expressions exist elsewhere in Europe, like Italy's "Estado paralelo" and Spain's "cloacas del Estado." The Pegasus spyware scandal added real-world clarity to fears about opaque state surveillance, lending some credence to deep state allegations.

However, sociologists and political scientists argue the concept often functions as a conspiracy theory weaponized by populist leaders to delegitimize public institutions and justify undermining democratic checks and balances. It frequently serves as a rhetorical device to frame political opponents as enemies within the state apparatus, raising important questions about governance, transparency, and rule of law in contemporary European democracies.

This examination is part of a broader collective work, "Le Vocabulaire de l’extrême droite," coordinated by Steven Forti, gathering interdisciplinary insights on this and related political concepts across Europe. The discourse around the deep state continues to influence political rhetoric and institutional trust in France and beyond.