IS RIGHT-WING POPULISM SEEING A RESURGENCE ACROSS THE WORLD?

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THE CONTEXT: There is general conception that there is rise in right wing populism. Recently, Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam, far-right populist, won the general elections in the Netherlands. In Argentina, the far-right politician, Javier Milei, won the presidential elections. In the U.S., early polls suggest that Donald Trump has a chance of returning to power again. In India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win a third term.

WHAT IS RIGHT WING POPULISM?

• Populism is generally thought of as a political phenomenon in which a voice of the people begins to argue that they are being kept out of power by some elite forces in society.
• The distinction between left-wing and right-wing populism lies at the roots of the de-legitimisation of the system.
• Left-wing populists argue that the masses, the working class are not being allowed to influence public policy because the political elites, dominated by capitalist interests are exerting undue influence on the system.
• The right-wing populists argue whether the liberal, democratic project of inclusion is legitimate. They target racial, religious minorities in society and suggest that these groups are not loyal citizens and so their voices are illegitimate.
• There is a mix of economic appeals with identity appeals to form the version of right-wing populism.

TRENDS OF RISING RIGHT WING POPULISM:

• Systematic destruction of public institutions in three ways:

1. By interpreting rules differently

2. By changing rules incrementally, such as by bringing in a Bill in India regulating the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner

3. By completely displacing rules, such as in the abrogation of Article 370 (in Jammu and Kashmir).

• Trend of ethno-nationalist identity-based grievances: There is a trend of fuelling the ethno-nationalist identity-based grievances that there are people, both outside and within the country, to blame for many of the ills that are going on.
• Trends of appeals: There are different kinds of appeals being made to win the elections.

In Argentina, with long standing economic crisis allows Mr. Milei to make the powerful appeal about 40 years of austerity measures and blaming the elites and the international economic system for this. In Hungary, for Viktor Orban, it was about migrants, but within the context of the European Union. In the Netherlands, India, or France, these actors have been around in the party system as fringe elements for a long time. They become powerful by fuelling support for grievances and the collapse of the centrist parties.

ISSUES:

• Broader crisis of governance: There is a broader crisis of governance. Generally the work of government is of spending tax revenues on building better roads and highways, clean water and health facilities. However, globalisation, corruption and bureaucratic ineffectiveness mean that many developing countries lack the fiscal space to do all this. When governments lack fiscal resources to effectively conduct public policy, they resort to other ways of winning elections, such as making identity appeals. This shows a lack of trust in the act of governance and in democracy.
• Undermines democratic institutions: This phase of populism has a majoritarian, ethno-nationalist flavour. There can be a Muslim ‘other’ to the Hindus, or a Tamil ‘other’ to the Sinhalese, or a Muslim ‘other’ to Christians, or a non-White ‘other’ to the White people. The manner in which this ‘othering’ is happening undermines democratic institutions.
• Personification of election: There is growing personification of election where election is not based on political party but on a single person. For example, Javier Milei in Argentina was able to make himself the focus of that election. Over the last eight years, Mr. Trump has been taking the Republican Party and making it all about himself. Therefore, it becomes more about the test of loyalty to the person rather than party values.

THE CONCLUSION:

It can be concluded that there are numerous conditions that provide the ground for rise of right wing populism in the world. Certain events such as the financial crisis and the migrant crisis propelled these sentiments further. However, these issues need to be addressed wisely without any political bias for the inclusive growth and governance.

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1 ‘Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples. (2020)

Q.2 ‘The long sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised nations has disappeared on account of its newfound role in the emerging global order.’ Elaborate. (2019)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Critically examine the socio-economic implications of resurgence of right-wing populism which is a recent phenomenon seen in the global scenarios.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/is-right-wing-populism-seeing-a-resurgence-across-the-world/article67684886.ece