The Right Will Rise: Existential Threat To Democracy

 

 

By J André Faust (July 09, 2023)

The trend that developed over the last ten years is this shift from progressive conservatives to Ultra-right conservationists. There is irony here because some Ultra-right conservatives tend to favour authoritarian personality types. Adolf Hitler came into power through a democratic process, and in the end, we have seen how that turned out yet denounce any dictatorship and authoritarian governments

The Stephen Harper era expelled the media from the press gallery and would only accept written questions allowing him to screen the questions. Harper prorogued parliament twice, the first time to avoid a vote of non-confidence and the second time when he came under fire for his handling of the mission in Afghanistan, particularly in regards to the detainment and alleged torture of Afghan detainees by Afghan authorities after being transferred from Canadian custody. These criticisms came to a head in 2009, resulting in significant political controversy.

To our neighbour, the United States, during the former President Donald Trump era, how successfully he exploited the emotions of the extreme and ultra-extreme to maintain power.

The million-dollar question is why, over the years, not only Canada and the United States have shown a drastic shift to the extreme ultra-right, but it seems to be a global phenomenon.

Current research and peer-reviewed papers suggest that several potential factors could contribute to a perceived shift toward the extreme right in certain societies. However, it is essential to note that social, political, and cultural contexts vary significantly between countries. The following list identifies some of the probable reasons for this shift.

1. Economic Insecurity: This is a driving factor behind many political shifts. People who feel their economic security is threatened may be drawn towards more extreme political ideologies, especially those promising to protect jobs, wealth, or national economies
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2. Cultural Backlash: Some people feel threatened by progressive social changes and may therefore be drawn to right-wing ideologies that promise to uphold traditional values and societal structures. For example, the acceleration of gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and multiculturalism can make some individuals feel uncomfortable and nostalgic for a past perceived as more stable.
   
   
3. Populism: Populist leaders often emphasize the distinction between the "ordinary people" and a "corrupt elite." Populism can lead to the rise of far-right ideologies, particularly if these leaders use nationalist rhetoric or claim that certain groups (such as immigrants or religious minorities) are threats to the country.
   
   
4. Polarization and Echo Chambers: Online algorithms can create echo chambers, where people only interact with similar viewpoints, reinforcing and potentially radicalizing their views. While this can apply to both left-wing and right-wing ideologies, it could contribute to a perceived shift towards the extreme right.
   
   
5. Media Influence: Media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion. Some news outlets with right-leaning tendencies can influence their viewers or readers towards more extreme views.
6. Reaction to Globalization: There's a perception among some people that globalization threatens national identity and sovereignty. In response, they may gravitate towards far-right ideologies that emphasize nationalism and protectionism.
   
   
7. Insecurity and Fear: In periods of social unrest, public health crises, or terrorist threats, people might turn to ideologies that promise stability, security, and strong leadership, which can be features of far-right rhetoric.
   
   
8. Failure of the Political Center: If centrist political parties are perceived as ineffective or out of touch with people's concerns, voters may turn to the political extremes, including the far-right.
   

This list is not exhaustive; it only addresses the common factors. Remember, the human psychological mechanism is complex.

The ultra-right are not necessarily bad people; they can be friends, neighbours, working comrades etc it is just how they perceive their world.

 

Sources:

1. Economic Insecurity
• "The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It" by Robert B. Reich
• "Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty" by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo
2. Cultural Backlash
• "White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American Politics" by Marisa Abrajano and Zoltan L. Hajnal
• "The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics" by Mark Lilla
3. Populism
• "The Populist's Guide to 2020: A New Right and New Left are Rising" by Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti
• "The Populist Explosion: How the Great Recession Transformed American and European Politics" by John B. Judis
4. Polarization and Echo Chambers
• "Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics" by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts
• "The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You" by Eli Pariser
5. Media Influence
• "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
• "The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads" by Tim Wu
6. Reaction to Globalization
• "Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization" by Branko Milanovic
• "The Retreat of Western Liberalism" by Edward Luce
7. Insecurity and Fear
• "The Politics of Fear: What Right-Wing Populist Discourses Mean" by Ruth Wodak
• "How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the Twenty-First Century" by Frank Furedi
8. Failure of the Political Center
• "The Extreme Centre: A Warning" by Tariq Ali
• "The Vanishing Center of American Democracy" by James Davison Hunter and Carl Desportes Bowman

The ultra-right are not necessarily bad people; they can be friends, neighbours, working comrades etc it is just how they perceive their world.