Americans have now had their first taste of Donald Trump.
There’s been numbers, accusations of false reporting on news, accusations of ‘fake news’ and public statements criticising Nordstrom’s for being unfair. Not to mention the attempt to ban Muslim immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries from coming to the U.S., and his attempt to build the infamous wall. Investing in public infrastructure to give immigrants work and allow goods flow freely, seems to be the best way to manage globalization and not abandon it. But, Trump plans to diminish confidence in global institutions and renegotiate trade deals.
Meanwhile in the U.K., Brexit is set in full swing as the MPS now officially back the bill. Those in favor of leaving the E.U. are the ‘experts’, yet they seem to agree on very little. Brexit has been the anti-globalists’ biggest merit, to leave the world’s most successful free-trade club, and leave it to the curious voters, and political rederick, bending mainstream parties in half.
And in France, Marine Le Pen, who drew her own personal strengths from old industrial and mining towns in North France, which once voted Communist. She appears to send political messages through simplified truths and rejection. Similar (but more extreme), than Mr. Trump, they both have rebranded themselves as anti-establishment leaders, who are to stand up for the people scorned by the elite. They channel a similar white working-class rage and similar vocabulary. Both Trump and Le Pen are nationalists supportive of Brexit and friendly with Russia. The alliance between Trump, Putin and Le Pen could bend and divide the European Union and undermine the old order. If France follows Britain in leaving the E.U., and elect Marine Le Pen, the E.U. could collapse.
It seems that globally, there is a bit of a bigger picture with this new rise in ultra-conservative, ultra-right politics. Populism, a term widely used in the 1800s when America’s populist movement divided the Democratic Party against the Republicans.
During the 50s, journalists birthed the term to describe everything from fascist to communist movements in Western Society. A Populist leader puts the ‘pure’ people against the corrupt elite. Some saw populism as a political strategy, where a charming leader somehow appeals to the masses. Its framework includes ideas of socialism, nationalism, racism to explain the world and justify subjective policies. Meanwhile, they have the people believe that they are always right. This is bad news for the nature of liberalism and democracy.
They all argue that the world is a cruel place, and that we should all build walls to keep it all out. Hungary and Poland have followed similar policies, offering a mix of xenophobia and disregard for an equal norm in the constitution.
The rise in Populism sprouted after the 70s and 80s, when the oil shock caused such recessions, and took the shine and pride off of the Western World’s back. Then, developing countries emerged with low-costing manufacturing, causing even more jobs in the West to disappear. Now, technology replaced manual workers in many fields, slowing economic growth even more, and stagnating wages. Since governments took credit for the post-war boom, they took blame for the slowdown as well. People felt deserted, and gave these politicians a chance to fix things, one policy after another. Sadly, no one could not bring back the rapid growth of the post-war period. The 2000s Iraqi war and 2008 financial crisis led to a complete red flag in believing in political elites. This then created the perfect environment for populists to thrive. They tell us that the people to blame for the chaos is the immigrants, elites and foreign powers, and they promise us that they will make things right. And then they started winning elections.
It seems that we have been destined for a populist uprising since our economic stagnation, unemployment rates, technological change, rising inequality and rapid social change. Our loss of faith in liberalism seems to be the only answer to the strive of populists, and as humans we hold our own Beacon of Hope close to our hearts. It seems that these interesting times keep us more than interested, and curious to protest and ask why and how.
This is the vastest risk to the free world since communism. A world of wall-builders would be much poorer and more dangerous. This is the first time since the Second World War that the great and wonderful rising powers are preaching a sense of patriotism and xenophobia. This pessimistic view that foreign affairs prevent gains and that nationalism can compete with globalism, makes for a more dangerous world.
