Global Surge of Right-Wing Politics
How Authoritarian Trends Are Shaping World Order, Exploring the factors behind the worldwide shift toward extreme right-wing politics, ideologies, and their impact on democracy
This post can be read in Tocsin Magazine, and all Medium members can read the full article here.
Introduction
The global political situation is far from ideal, and it’s hard not to notice that many nations — as well as their leaders and politicians — have begun shifting toward the right.
When the fear of a major war looms over the populace, right-wing parties climb the political ladder quickly; their promises are attractive, and they offer swift solutions to complex problems.
Traditionally, right-wing politics and its strongholds were found in impoverished or underdeveloped regions. In recent times, however, these ideologies have steadily infiltrated advanced countries — nations once celebrated for their liberal values.
The most prominent example is the United States, where conservative right-wing figures have come to dominate the political scene. Yet the US is not alone; similar trends can be observed in European Union countries like Hungary, Austria, and Germany, as well as in Russia and several Asian nations.
Historical Parallels: Crisis, Scapegoating, and Authoritarianism
Historically, right-wing movements have emerged during turbulent times — when the threat of war and instability forces people to seek strong, decisive leadership.
In such periods, citizens are willing to sacrifice democratic and liberal principles, even fundamental civil liberties, in exchange for the promise of security and prosperity.
The deeper a nation sinks into crisis, the more rapidly right-wing leaders rise to power.
Consider Nazi Germany and its Führer. In a country reeling from the aftermath of World War I, where widespread problems created fertile ground for radical change, the Nazis built a vision of prosperity for the so-called “true Aryans” at the expense of minorities such as Jews, Roma, and Slavs.
Hitler promised every German a job, a fair wage, a home, and all that a true German deserved — in exchange for complete obedience and absolute power.
Remarkably, he managed to deliver on those promises, offering many a life of dignity, though at a tremendous cost. The prosperity — jobs, houses, money, cars, and villas — came at the expense of minorities, who were deemed less valuable, later branded enemies of the state, and ultimately stripped of everything, even their lives.
Does this scenario sound familiar?
How often do you hear in the media that immigrants are to blame for all the world’s problems?
Unfortunately, such cries of hate are common today, echoing across television, the internet, and social media. And it isn’t only a U.S. phenomenon; this form of scapegoating is happening around the globe.
The Rigt Wing Politics of Fear: Blaming Minorities and Immigrants
Where does this deep-seated animosity toward foreigners and certain groups — like the LGBTQ community — originate?
It is all too easy to single out those who behave differently from the majority, blaming them for society’s woes, much like Nazi Germany did.
If you look closely, right-wing groups around the world seem to follow the same old tune — a song sung for centuries without variation, regardless of whether they come from Germany, the USA, Europe, or Russia.
They tend to single out one or two segments of society, blame them for the country’s troubles, and promise that once in power, these groups will be eliminated and all problems will vanish.
In hard times, people are not willing to endure further sacrifices, harsh measures, or severe cutbacks — they crave quick, effective solutions, and right-wing leaders readily offer them. Yet once in power, after the targeted groups are removed, these leaders soon find that there are no easy fixes and that real change takes time.
At that point, they impose strict discipline on their own people; any form of dissent or alternative thinking is labeled as betrayal or rebellion against the system.
Fear becomes the instrument by which the masses are kept in line. Sadly, by the time citizens realize whom they have elected and empowered, it is often too late — leaving them with no option but to follow the so-called Great Leader to either an “ultimate victory” or total collapse.
Charting a New Course
Our choices at the ballot box determine who leads us. Let’s not be swayed by the promises of right-wing leaders who always blame isolated groups — such as immigrants — for a nation’s woes. Instead, we should strive to be open-hearted and liberal, welcoming those who are different, integrating foreigners and minorities into our communities, and giving everyone a fair chance at honest work.
Hatred and division are not paths to prosperity; history has repeatedly shown that they lead only to downfall. Real change in the world begins with a change in one person. Let’s set an example by starting with ourselves and being that first person who makes a difference.
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Greetings and until my next article!
Neo77
