Standing at the Precipice of Populism: Navigating the Tempest of Far-Right Resurgence

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

I was reading an article by Robin O’Luanaigh posted by the Global Network on Extremism & Technology, which I have referenced below, and, as it is with me, I was inspired to pen an article.

From day one, I have taught my daughter many of the ‘old ways:’ She knows how to cook from scratch, use whole spices and develop her own unique recipes. Conversely, I have taught her about diversity, acceptance, and love; I have taught her to rise above traditional gender roles. What I have not taught her is that a ‘woman’s place is in the kitchen:’ Nor have I taught her to be subservient to men or to anyone else for that matter. I taught her about equality — and I have taught her to think both critically and logically. While the pastoral aesthetics and goals of #cottagecore #tradwives and other recent social media trends that pine for ‘the old ways’ are grand — if that is what people want to champion in their lives, that’s their choice.

I am concerned that these ideals, these frameworks, are being co-opted, hijacked as it were, by far-right terrorist groups and other malignant actors to proselytise and radicalise people to their causes. These individuals and groups appear to stop at nothing to infect people with their malignant ideals. I worry about the maelstrom that is the current geopolitical storm synthesising and forging a more far-right fascist zeitgeist and destroying the ‘democratic experiment.’ Democracy is in the process of backsliding: this trend is worldwide!

As stated by Charles Taylor, emeritus professor of philosophy at McGill University: ‘… “populism” throughout Europe and the United States. Basically, contemporary right-wing populism succeeds by weaving together two forces: a sense of identity threat among majorities directed against ethnic, cultural or religious minorities, or immigrants in general, which may often lie dormant beneath appeals for tolerance and openness….’

The trend of far-right populism has gained considerable traction in the last decade. Add in some amplifying events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic isolating people from one of their basic human needs, to socialise: throw in a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine fomenting a refugee crisis, a cost of living crisis, government ineptitude, co-opted social media trends by nefarious actors, and filter bubbles, and you have fertile ground for the rebirth of fascism on an epic scale.

Let me clarify ‘government ineptitude’ in Ireland, NAMA incorporated as a response to the financial crisis beginning in 2008: ‘has sold more than €40 billion of par debt since 2013; more than 90 per cent of it to US vulture funds.’ So if the statement in the referenced article is true, what do you think happens to housing prices: it rises so that vulture funds can ‘maximise profit.’ Levels of homelessness rise due to a lack of affordable housing: and voila, you have a ‘housing crisis.’

Now, and I am talking specifically of the situation in Ireland, add a refugee crisis due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, exposure to hijacked ideals injected by malicious actors into the ‘pastoral ideals’ of #cottagecore, #tradwife and other social media movements, mistrust in the efficacy of the government to act in the best interests of the ‘indigenous’ population evidenced by memes such as ‘Ireland is for the Irish’ becoming more popular by the day.

So, the intersection of government ineptitude and myriad other aggravating factors has led to the meteoric rise of the far right in Ireland. Unfortunately, this trend of far-right populism is gaining worldwide, which is an existential threat to democratic systems.

At this point in history, we are standing at the precipice of a potentially seismic shift, a pivot point in the trajectory of our societies, driven by a storm of multifaceted pressures fanning the flames of far-right populism. The intersections of this issue are manifold: the manipulation of nostalgia-evoking social media trends like #cottagecore and #tradwives by malevolent actors, the sociopolitical ramifications of pandemics and wars, the palpable dissatisfaction stemming from governmental missteps, and the social discord wrought by economic crises forged into a malodorous doctrine of xenophobia and hate amplified on social media and spewed forth from the wire to the weeds.

We must remember that our children, just as I have raised my own, should not be taught subservience or a warped conception of gender roles, ethnicity or race but rather imbued with the values of critical thinking, acceptance, and equality. These values are our most potent shield against the encroachment of dangerous ideologies that seek to infiltrate our collective psyche under the guise of pastoral innocence.

The increasing prevalence of sentiments such as ‘Ireland is for the Irish’ is a stark testament to the escalating unease, an echo of the far-right sentiment that seems to be taking root across the globe. It is symptomatic of a broader global disease, where populations feel threatened by ‘the other,’ manipulated by shrewd actors who capitalise on fear and uncertainty.

This zeitgeist is no longer merely confined to the fringe: but is making significant inroads into mainstream consciousness, driven in part by mismanaged crises such as the Irish housing debacle, where government action inadvertently fuelled discontent. The collusion of these factors, including the refugee influx resulting from the Russo-Ukrainian war, is a perfect recipe for radicalisation.

Thus, it is imperative that we remain vigilant, questioning and thoughtful, lest we surrender the very essence of our democratic ethos to this rising wave of extremism. Democracy is in jeopardy of backsliding into a shadow of its former self. The battle against this regressive tide begins with education and understanding, fostering an environment where diversity, acceptance, and critical thinking become the bulwarks against the insidious reach of far-right populism. And so, as guardians of our democratic legacy, we must ensure these values remain our guiding stars as we navigate these tumultuous waters.

Addendum

1. Precipice: A very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one. In this context, it’s used metaphorically to mean the edge of a potentially significant and dangerous change.
2. Populism: A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
3. Far-Right Resurgence: The increasing influence and power of far-right political ideologies, typically characterised by strong nationalism, anti-immigration stances, and often a rejection of liberal and progressive social changes.
4. Global Backslide of Democracy: A global trend of democratic regression where countries are moving towards authoritarianism and away from democratic norms.
5. Cottagecore: An Internet aesthetic that idealises a rural, pastoral life. It values simplicity, sustainability, and a DIY approach to tasks.
6. Tradwives: A term short for ‘traditional wives.’ It refers to a social trend where some women choose to follow traditional gender roles, such as being homemakers and prioritising family over career.
7. From the Wire to the Weeds: A phrase I discovered in the book: Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America. The term refers to online activism transitioning to the real world, i.e. protests.
8. NAMA: Refers to the National Asset Management Agency, an entity created by the government of Ireland in response to the financial crisis in 2008.
9. Charles Taylor: A renowned Canadian philosopher and social theorist who has contributed significantly to political philosophy, the philosophy of social science, and the history of philosophy.
10. Identity Threat: The perceived threat to one’s established identity or status, often invoked in discussions around immigration, cultural change, or changes in social norms.
11. Vulture Funds: A type of hedge fund or private equity fund that invests in debt considered to be very weak or in default, known as distressed securities.
12. Filter Bubbles: A term coined by internet activist Eli Pariser, it refers to a state of intellectual isolation that can result from personalised searches when a website algorithm selectively guesses what information a user would like to see based on information about the user.
13. Zeitgeist: The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

References

Charles Taylor. Is Democracy Slipping Away?. (2023). Retrieved 20 May 2023, from https://items.ssrc.org/democracy-papers/is-democracy-slipping-away/

Mick Wallace: Vulture funds are cheating us all. (2023). Retrieved 20 May 2023, from https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/mick-wallace-vulture-funds-are-cheating-us-all-1.3076969

Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America: Joan Donovan: Bloomsbury Publishing. (2023). Retrieved 20 May 2023, from https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/meme-wars-9781635578638/

By Robin O’Luanaigh. Co-opting Cottagecore: Pastoral Aesthetics in Reactionary and Extremist Movements. (2023). Retrieved 20 May 2023, from https://gnet-research.org/2023/05/19/co-opting-cottagecore-pastoral-aesthetics-in-reactionary-and-extremist-movements/