Recently the spring issue of the Christian Democratic Recognitions of the CDA's Scientific Institute was published, with the theme 'Democratic Ethos'. Director Socires Kees Buitendijk wrote the final article. What if the anti-democratic revolt also gets its feet (even more) in the Netherlands?
The demise of democracy: to "Project 2035'
Under the guise of democratic legitimacy In the United States the rule of law is rapidly dismantled. In the Netherlands, we look at it with bewilderment. Who knew it could happen that fast? Still, we should have known. The manual for the attack on the American institutions has been ready for a few years and is called "Project 2025'. It's not gonna happen to us, is it?
Project 2025 is a battle plan, a road map for conquest. From the first page the authors warn: This is our last chance. The enemy must be dealt with effectively. The mandate given to Trump at the elections paves the way for a firm and definitive intervention. If he doesn't, America is doomed to ruin, according to the writers.
Behind Project 2025 is The Heritage Foundation, an American think tank of conservative cut. The nine hundred page document was written by a network of researchers, writers, thinkers and politicians. It includes concrete plans for the redevelopment of American society, from federal to local level, in every policy area. The document also contains a list of key positions to be formed, from the President in the White House to politicians and officials in states and cities; Who's gonna sit where?
Revenge and Resentiment
The project 2025 reveals an enemy image that is vague but works particularly effectively. The corrupt globalist wokeelite must be dealt with. Nowhere is that group specified; But the writers know that they populate the American institutions in a majority. So those institutions must be broken down if necessary.
With the choice for this antagonism, The Heritage Foundation felt the sentiment in American society well. This is evident from the Beyond MAGA report of the independent research organisation More in Common. Under the leadership of the renowned researcher Stephen Hawkins, the organization conducted qualitative-empirical research into Trump's electorate. Four major electoral blocs are recognized within them, which are clearly different from each other and often even seek seemingly contradictory ideals: MAGA Hardliners, Anti-Woke Conservatives, Mainline Republicans and The Reluctant Right. They have for one important reason stepped over their very different views on economics, religion, education, medical ethics, etc. That reason? Their profound aversion to the corrupt elite, the pervasive cultural change and .
Remarkable result from Hawkins c.s. research is the great anti-democratic shift among young Trump voters. Half of the 45-minners who voted for Trump agree that Trump may ignore the judiciary if necessary to save America. That's a doubling compared to Trump voters over 45. On many social issues, this group of young voters is also significantly more conservative than their (grand) parents. According to the researchers, this new traditionalism is expected to continue to influence American democracy in the coming years.
The Conquest of Europe
The policy agenda of Project 2025 is not limited to US domestic policy. In November 2025, the National Security Strategy was published, in which the state of European society was discussed with extreme delay. However, the Americans are not too bad to help us to go their own way: "American diplomacy should continue to stand up for genuine democracy, freedom of expression, and unapologetic celebrations of European nations' individual character and history. America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties did gives cause for great optimism. Our goal should be to help Europe correct its current trajectory.
This form of direct American influence seems grotesque, but is terrifying
The Heritage Foundation is now busy opening branches on the European continent, with the task of supporting political and social movements that undermine national and European institutions. In February 2026 it was also announced that direct US subsidies will be provided to European NGOs and think tanks that support the MEGA philosophy: Make Europe Great Again.
This form of direct American influence seems grotesque, but is terrifying. Even if it's only because the Americans are throwing oil on the fire on an enemy rhetoric that also smears under the surface here. What can we do to prevent a violent fire?
The Dutch answer
We can put that question to the new Jetten cabinet. The parties D66, VVD and CDA signal in their coalition agreement On the other hand, it is important for the European Union to be able to play an active part in the process. The coalition calls for three concrete measures: making the democratic rule of law more resilient (including by increasing the independence of institutions); strengthening the parliamentary system (e.g. through electoral reform); and deepening the democratic ethos through civic education.
These intentions, however well-intentioned, offer little cause for optimism. The latter, citizenship education alone, has not done much in the last 20 years. The report Citizenship in primary education from 2021 even indicates a decline in citizenship knowledge. Is this reason for extra investment or why we should think more critically about what we really mean by democratic citizenship and how this could be promoted?
The above report provides clues to this critical reflection. The majority of pupils score relatively low on citizenship attitudes; They therefore have difficulty dealing with the four areas of conflict, dealing with differences, democratic action, and socially responsible action. In doing so, the report touches on the core of what the cabinet is supposed to mean by the "Democratic ethos': the ability of citizens to live together, to take responsibility, to be caring and tolerant and to work for something. Those are the attitudes that drive democracy.
Support for democracy disappears very quickly if something is at stake
Of course, it is important to pay attention to the robustness of our institutions. That should not be left to the Jetten cabinet. But the American situation shows us how a democratically revolted institution can level the ground in a short time. Signals like those of the Education Inspectorate should therefore be taken very seriously. How widely spread and how deeply anchored is the democratic fundamental attitude today even outside the classroom? Or, in many parts of our society, other sentiments have also prevailed: Indifference and cynicism, resistance, fear of loss and the strange? What happens when they find their way to the parliamentary process, increasingly widespread and with an ever higher tone? How easy do they turn out to be to mobilise and use clever politicians as political capital!
Support for democracy
It's not gonna go that fast, is it? Research after research shows that Dutch people are immutably convinced of the usefulness and necessity of democracy (still about seventy percent). However, there is a comment here. The American politician Erik Nisbet asked follow-up questions to the general question: Are you in favour of democracy? (Yes, there was a large majority in favour.) For example, in subsequent questions, support for the rule of law was placed against loss of prosperity. Suddenly the image tilted and the vast majority of his respondents preferred peace in the wallet rather than the democratic rule of law. Support for democracy disappears very quickly when something is actually at stake is Nisbet's conclusion.
Perhaps the support for democracy in the Netherlands is even more than a thin layer of varnish. Let's hope so. But opinion poller Peter Kanne does in his book Lang I will live a good life some observations that are more in line with Nisbet's research. The Dutch are extremely prosperous, very anxious for the future, have a total lack of resilience and are particularly quickly inclined to blame another (the system, the government debt). With the subtitle of his book, Kanne characterizes the assignment where we are in the Netherlands: hampered by my addiction to we-feeling.
A healthy, humane society exists by the grace of benevolent citizens; People who want to work for something, be patient, look after each other and sometimes take their losses. If those feelings are gone, or if they turn to their opposite, the voting booth becomes an attack post. Then democracy becomes a means of profit and revenge.
Much more than institutional consolidation, the Jetten cabinet is faced with the question of how to restore the social and moral qualities of our democratic society. That is an almost impossible task. How do you produce responsibility, care and commitment?
The question is how to restore the social and moral qualities of our democratic society.
Nevertheless, it is a task that we must address. She touches all areas of life: care, education, safety, sport, punishment and rehabilitation, living and working. From families and neighborhoods to associations, churches and sports clubs. From trade unions and companies to financial institutions and political parties. From the digital world to supranational connections, and even to our geopolitical choices. All these areas will have to be set up in such a way that they promote the social and moral ability of people to practice there.
The need for a Project 2035
Let's return to the example of the American Heritage Foundation. She took her self-worded task seriously. It is an organization of size, with long-term programmes and a large network. With scholarships and training programmes, The Heritage Foundation is training a new generation of MAGA Republicans. She organises debates, discussion meetings and conferences. There are books, news media and public broadcasts (via YouTube and podcasts). In short, this is a comprehensive programme for the conquest and occupation of the American institutions for the coming decades.
What if we have a few more years to strengthen our democracy? Who writes the plans for that? We have a rich landscape of scientists, journalists and public intellectuals who provide sharp analyses. But who translates it into a coherent social programme?
The question arises: Who takes the lead in a Dutch project 2035
The article can also be readas .pdf file.Would you like to read the entire edition of the CDV? Visit the website of the CDV:Magazine cdv.nl
This article was written by Kees Buitendijk. If you have any questions or would like to respond to the article, please contact Kees viak.buitendijk@socires.nl
