Something unprecedented took place in Austria in December 2017 ? and hardly anyone outside the country noticed: For the first time in Western Europe, a government took power that advocates anti-immigration and anti-Islamization policies.

The government comprises two very different parties which together won 58 percent of the vote: The arch-establishment, very-mildly conservative Austrian People’s Party(PP) and the populist, firebrand Freedom Party of Austria(FPA) whose roots lie in the far-right swamp of German (not Austrian) nationalism.

The two parties’ coalition agreement is a counterjihadi’s dream. Distinguishing between Islamism (which it calls political Islam) and the religion of Islam, it boldly stakes out new ground.

“Austria guarantees freedom of belief and religion but fights political Islam. By political Islam we mean groups and organizations whose ideological foundation is Islam, and which seek to change the basic political and social order by rejecting our constitution and Islamizing society. Political Islam, which can lead to radicalization, anti-Semitism, violence and terrorism, has no place in our society.”

Recently I discovered, another issue generates passions; that would be the FPA’s inclusion in the government. This also has Europe-wide importance because it likely foreshadows future disputes over conservatives allying with populists in countries like France, Germany and Sweden.

Those hostile to the FPA stress its Nazi origins, its “politics of resentment,” and its anti-Western outlook. Those friendly to it point to its accurate civilizational critique, its positive evolution, and the far greater danger of Islamofascism.

For all their shortcomings, parties focused on I&I are key to Europe remaining part of Western civilization.