Far-right leaders are winning across the globe. Blaming ‘the economy’ or ‘the left-behinds’ won’t cut it
Far-right leaders are winning across the globe. Blaming ‘the economy’ or ‘the left-behinds’ won’t cut it
The economy matters, but the likes of Trump succeed by offering voters revenge for problems both real and imagined, says author and Salvage founder Richard Seymour
Summary
Far-right leaders are gaining globally, with Trump’s victory in the US presidential election echoing trends in Hungary, India, and other countries.
Donald Trump’s 2024 victory marks a historic first where he won the U.S. popular vote, supported by diverse groups including young, Black, and Latino voters, as well as the working class—a reversal from previous elections.
This win aligns with global far-right gains, reflecting voter frustration with economic hardships and liberal policies.
Analysts argue that the far right’s appeal lies in its “politics of existential revenge,” which vilifies minority groups and offers imaginary disasters as scapegoats.
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Social media is to blame, at least in huge parts.
It offers a platform for unproven claims, and especially the short content formats are an issue:
You can not cover important topics fairly in those formats. Only populism can profit from it. And the far right does this.
We reached a point where people don't believe the published agendas of candidates and parties anymore. They only trust what the hear and see on social media.
Of course there are other factors, but this is an important one.
Social media is just the medium, the problem is the right have a united and highly organised propaganda machine across the globe. From tv news to in print newspapers to social media influencers to the algorithms and owners of the platforms themselves.
Mea while the left has none of that and doesn't have the unity or organisation to do it.
Do you mean “the left” as in “US democrats” or “the left” as in actual leftists? Because actual leftists have been attacked by every government in power of the US and western industrialized nations since before WWII. That “left” has a damn good reason for lacking a cohesive message.
Either is applicable.
I am talking about the global phenomenon. Something like rox news does not exist here in Germany for example.
We always had right wing propaganda. But now we have social media too. And that produced a confirmation cycle. The propaganda channels spew lies, people spread does lies on social media, and the media cam say "look, there, normal people on X say the same thing, it must be true".
And of course, also the other way around
Social media indeed.
And that lying has no consequences. (Which also tied in No.1)They only trust what the hear and see on social media.
Is there any data yet that backs this thinking?
There are some studies. Mostly behind pay Walls. A good source I found a while back was this meta study.
Thanks! I'll have to give it a look.
We have the data. Trust me. I'm from social media.
Or just maybe social media has enabled the masses to realize globalism hasn't really helped them. A cheaper TV wasn't worth the massive exportation of factory jobs. Free trade allows a race to the bottom for labor that can be done elsewhere, that's great for owners, not so great for the workers that can't find a comparable job anymore.
That might be true but voting in fascists (who will make every single one of the problems worse) was the rational response?
If you give someone the choice between change and continuing to be kicked in the ass, they will choose change. Trying to argue that the change is getting kicked in the nuts isn't a big seller.
You’re not wrong but people are fucking dumb. It just means we’re all going to get kicked in the nuts now while my ass is still hurting.