I find myself very concerned with the rise of Far Right Populism and with the leaning towards Russia aspects of some of the European Far Right.
I think Ukraine not being allowed to join Nato in 2008 has allowed Putin to go full throttle warmongering dictator on Russias' Western borders. As we know, through the previous wars and annexation of territories in Chechenia and Georgia, Putin is a very dangerous leader for neighbouring countries and for global stability.
Putin wants to disrupt the European Union and Nato but I don't think he would have even considered invading Ukraine if they were a Nato member state. Putin is carefully picking off unaligned countries and he has clearly stated that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the worst thing to happen in the 20th Century and that he wants war in Europe.
Russia also has many fingers in electoral pies and is know for its troll factories and election interference.
I am left wondering if Orban in Hungary and the Austrian far right would be quite so enamoured with Russia if they had not been forced to take a stance due to the war in Ukraine.
It is also interesting that a lot of far right support comes from young white males, who are the group who feel most alienated with the modern world due to their loss of previous privilege and their jobs being outsourced to countries where goods are cheaper to produce. The race replacement theory is ripe for attracting people like this.
Falling living standards, caused in many cases by wealth transfer away from governments and middle and working classes to the super rich has its place to play in people feeling disenfranchised in general as government services decrease and wages stagnate. I think these issues help to foster a place for increased negativity towards immigrants. We also have the issue of the climate emergency that will only create more political instability and more refugees and immigration. This will only further feed the race replacement theories and non racist people feeling our countries and cultures can't take in so many people at once.
I think we are, unfortunately, living in interesting times with so many current issues being interconnected in the present and interconnected with issues from the 19th and 20th century.
I agree entirely, especially with your paragraph about living standards. I think that he Left has some responsibility for fighting the Right on a ground chosen by them (the so-called culture wars) and not talking much about the cost of living, outsourcing ecetera - culture rather than class, very good for the divide-at-impera strategy adopted by the Right.
Absolutely, culture wars are waste of time and energy in the public space and only further division.
There needs to be far more internal investment in many countries on infrastructure and housing, as obvious examples, these projects will provide internal jobs and improve lives. People who feel that they are well housed and have a decent paying job and the their country works for them are far less likely to lean to political extremes, pick on immigrants and ethnic minorities etc,
Totally agree with you both about living standards. Using both Italy and the UK as my examples, the economic situation there has a direct impact on people being disillusioned with the 'establishment'. I'd also add the element of fear. There are a lot of changes right now - from AI to climate change. Fear is an understandable reaction, and not an unreasonable one. And the simple answers are always the ones that are easier to believe.
So true about fear. I could write you another essay response on that emotion and its drivers on human behaviour. At the personal level of our own phsyche and our immediate relationships and interactions and then outside of our own mini world and our engagement with the greater world around us. As you point out fear and anxiety want and need and simple answers but life and moving through it is complex.
Thanks for another interesting article.
I find myself very concerned with the rise of Far Right Populism and with the leaning towards Russia aspects of some of the European Far Right.
I think Ukraine not being allowed to join Nato in 2008 has allowed Putin to go full throttle warmongering dictator on Russias' Western borders. As we know, through the previous wars and annexation of territories in Chechenia and Georgia, Putin is a very dangerous leader for neighbouring countries and for global stability.
Putin wants to disrupt the European Union and Nato but I don't think he would have even considered invading Ukraine if they were a Nato member state. Putin is carefully picking off unaligned countries and he has clearly stated that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the worst thing to happen in the 20th Century and that he wants war in Europe.
Russia also has many fingers in electoral pies and is know for its troll factories and election interference.
I am left wondering if Orban in Hungary and the Austrian far right would be quite so enamoured with Russia if they had not been forced to take a stance due to the war in Ukraine.
It is also interesting that a lot of far right support comes from young white males, who are the group who feel most alienated with the modern world due to their loss of previous privilege and their jobs being outsourced to countries where goods are cheaper to produce. The race replacement theory is ripe for attracting people like this.
Falling living standards, caused in many cases by wealth transfer away from governments and middle and working classes to the super rich has its place to play in people feeling disenfranchised in general as government services decrease and wages stagnate. I think these issues help to foster a place for increased negativity towards immigrants. We also have the issue of the climate emergency that will only create more political instability and more refugees and immigration. This will only further feed the race replacement theories and non racist people feeling our countries and cultures can't take in so many people at once.
I think we are, unfortunately, living in interesting times with so many current issues being interconnected in the present and interconnected with issues from the 19th and 20th century.
Looking forward to your next article.
I agree entirely, especially with your paragraph about living standards. I think that he Left has some responsibility for fighting the Right on a ground chosen by them (the so-called culture wars) and not talking much about the cost of living, outsourcing ecetera - culture rather than class, very good for the divide-at-impera strategy adopted by the Right.
Absolutely, culture wars are waste of time and energy in the public space and only further division.
There needs to be far more internal investment in many countries on infrastructure and housing, as obvious examples, these projects will provide internal jobs and improve lives. People who feel that they are well housed and have a decent paying job and the their country works for them are far less likely to lean to political extremes, pick on immigrants and ethnic minorities etc,
Totally agree with you both about living standards. Using both Italy and the UK as my examples, the economic situation there has a direct impact on people being disillusioned with the 'establishment'. I'd also add the element of fear. There are a lot of changes right now - from AI to climate change. Fear is an understandable reaction, and not an unreasonable one. And the simple answers are always the ones that are easier to believe.
So true about fear. I could write you another essay response on that emotion and its drivers on human behaviour. At the personal level of our own phsyche and our immediate relationships and interactions and then outside of our own mini world and our engagement with the greater world around us. As you point out fear and anxiety want and need and simple answers but life and moving through it is complex.