Why is demagoguery rising, democracy retreating?

Fred Hiatt offers a convincing analysis that the beacons of democracy in the world today are fading, but offers no explanation of the world’s drift to authoritarianism. One reason for this trend is that the world is running out of resources. This explains why China is determined to steal the resource-rich South China Sea and raise two fingers to the United Nations. Russia’s land-grab in the Crimea is another example.

In the United States, globalisation has benefited many, but certainly not the mass of blue-collar workers who form the voter base of Donald Trumps’ presidential bid. Meanwhile in Europe, the wasteful bureaucracies of the European Union have encouraged populism and narrow nationalism, as Brexit amply demonstrates.

It’s also likely that the social media and Wikileaks have done much to destroy the credibility of traditional politicians by exposing their corruption and double-dealing. If Hillary Clinton loses in November, we will all know why. Sadly, the world is entering a new phase in which noisy demagogues offer simplistic solutions to voters’ concerns. As Adolf Hitler said on becoming chancellor in 1933, “Away with the past. We look with absolute confidence to the future.”

Barry Kenyon