Has the populist far right finally entered a period of decline globally?, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Recent electoral setbacks for right-wing parties and leaders have been observed in countries including Romania, Hungary, Serbia, the U.S., and Brazil.
• Youth-led protests in India are challenging the government, prompting discussions about a potential global decline of the populist far-right.
• Experts Irfan Nooruddin and Christophe Jaffrelot debated whether these developments signal a broader global shift away from populist far-right politics.
• Donald Trump's rise in 2016 was influenced by specific factors such as backlash against the first African American president and the post-financial crisis economy.
• Populist leaders like Viktor Orbán, Benjamin Netanyahu, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rodrigo Duterte, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Narendra Modi have utilized social media, fear, and identity politics.

Detailed Insights:

• Irfan Nooruddin suggests that Donald Trump normalized a "brashness and arrogance" and a disregard for liberal values, which emboldened similar leaders worldwide.
• Christophe Jaffrelot describes "national populism" as a phenomenon where leaders claim to protect "sons of the soil" from perceived threats like migrants and globalization.
• The resurgence of the far-right in European nations, including Britain, France, and Germany, is partly attributed to the high cost of housing for youth and increasing economic disparities.
• Global instability, unfulfilled public expectations, and the perceived abandonment of welfare state principles by neoliberal policies contribute to a public desire for authoritarian "saviours."
• Elites sometimes employ populism to divert public attention from pressing socioeconomic issues, as exemplified by Hindu nationalism in India redirecting focus towards Muslims.
• Social media and "post-truth" environments enable populists to bypass traditional media, directly engaging specific audiences and exacerbating societal divisions.
• The article underscores the critical need for a robust civil society, an independent judiciary, and a fair election commission to prevent the erosion of democratic norms.
• Voters often base their electoral decisions on the performance of incumbent governments and perceived corruption, rather than strictly adhering to coherent ideologies.
• The delegitimization of elections, as seen in movements like "Stop the Steal" in the U.S., poses a severe threat to the integrity of democratic processes.
• Organizations such as Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) in India are recognized for their role in scrutinizing election procedures and safeguarding democracy.
• A sustained decline of the populist far-right would necessitate upholding both majority rule and minority rights, supported by strong institutions ensuring free and fair elections.
• The article differentiates between the legitimate political right and the far-right, emphasizing that the latter's "exclusive vision" and "othering" of people are incompatible with modern democracy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Populism: A political ideology appealing to ordinary people who feel their concerns are ignored by established elite groups.
• National Populism: A form of populism emphasizing national identity, often targeting immigrants or globalist policies as threats.
• Neoliberalism: An economic philosophy advocating for free markets, deregulation, and reduced government social spending.
• Delegitimization of Elections: Actions or rhetoric aimed at undermining public trust in the fairness and legitimacy of electoral outcomes.