Center-right parties are in danger of self-destruction, warns extremism expert
In the political landscape of today, the danger of authoritarianism and a potential constitutional crisis looms large over the United States, as President Donald Trump exhibits traits of an autocrat. This mirrors a global trend, as right-wing populism threatens democratic institutions in various countries.
Across Europe, center-right parties have suffered a decline by cooperating or forming coalitions with extreme right parties, such as Silvio Berlusconi's party in Italy and the Republicans in France. This pattern underscores the importance of liberal democrats confronting populist parties, engaging in debates with those who disagree, and reaching out to the people, even on social media.
The rise of the right-wing populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany, though relatively late, is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of ignoring such threats. The AfD's success is linked to its increasing radicalization, achieving its best results where it is most extreme — a phenomenon unprecedented in German history.
Peter R. Neumann's book, "The Death of Democracy," explores the key criteria that enable right-wing populism to become authoritarian or fascist. These criteria involve a combination of psychological, political, and institutional factors that interact to erode democratic norms and establish highly controlled, exclusionary regimes.
- Authoritarian Psychological Traits: Right-wing authoritarians exhibit a belief in strict social order, unquestioning obedience to authority, intolerance towards dissent, and a tendency to punish those who violate norms. This creates a social base ripe for authoritarian control.
- Populist-Authoritarian Leadership Style: Leaders employ anti-elitist, nativist rhetoric that divides society into “pure” people versus corrupt elites or dangerous outsiders. Such leaders claim to represent the true will of the people while simultaneously undermining institutional checks and balances.
- Context of Institutional Weakness or Democratic Backsliding: Authoritarian populism tends to emerge when democracy is already weakened, marked by ossified party systems, lack of responsiveness, and declining public trust in political institutions.
- Exclusionary and Anti-Democratic Ideologies: Far-right politics often involve exclusivism, such as racism, xenophobia, and ethnonationalism, combined with anti-democratic values like rejection of pluralism and preference for hierarchical, monist state structures.
- Use of Technology and Repression: In advanced cases, authoritarian right-wing movements leverage surveillance technologies and digital media to monitor dissent, propagate misinformation, and manipulate public opinion, solidifying control and normalizing repression under the guise of national security or social cohesion.
- Militarism and Hyper-Nationalism (Fascism): For right-wing populism to cross into fascism, it often adopts an intensified militaristic spirit and aggressive nationalism, coupled with the desire for total societal control. Fascist regimes usually collapse democratic freedoms entirely and replace them with totalitarian control centered around a charismatic leader and a single-party state.
In the case of Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the country has been transformed into an "illiberal democracy" with the potential for it to be irreversible. Marine Le Pen, the French politician, has moderated her party's stance on key issues to attract votes from the political center, but her sincerity is questionable.
Effective democratic politics is crucial in preventing the death of democracy. As people feel like nothing is moving forward, liberal democrats need to tighten their belts and ensure progress. Centrist parties still need to invest a lot of brainpower to convey their message effectively on social media platforms, as demonstrated by the Left's success on TikTok.
A potential trigger for a constitutional crisis in the USA could be if the Supreme Court issues a ruling that Trump dislikes and he ignores it, or a migration crisis where he declares a state of emergency. It is essential for democratic institutions to maintain their checks and balances to prevent such a crisis and uphold the principles of democracy.
- In the face of rising right-wing populism in Europe, center-right parties must cautiously engage with extreme parties to maintain democratic norms, lest they inadvertently facilitate the emergence of an authoritarian leadership style.
- As President Trump demonstrates autocratic tendencies and the global trend of right-wing populism threatens democratic institutions, it is crucial for liberal democrats in the United States to diligently keep checks and balances intact to prevent a potential constitutional crisis.
