Daily Times

At the very end of the Cold War, the globally lauded essay of Francis Fukuyama got published entitled as “The End of History?” becoming the most famous discourse in global politics. It focused on the ideological penchant and ascendancy of ‘Western Liberal Democracy’. It was not only the ascendancy of the west-led democracy but also the demise of the rest of the ideologies. Fascism and Nazism were rooted out during the calamitous World War, and communism was shattered with the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.

But the same author turns out to be compelled to rewrite and rethink about the thesis of the End of History. It was the publication of his new book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. In the preface of his new book, he acknowledged that it seemed like the return of ideology. He called it as “nationalist populism”. But what does the current rhetoric of populism mean?

To know the essence of populism, Bernard Crick provides the most comprehensive meaning. In his book, Democracy: A Very Short Introduction he argues: “Populism has come to mean many things, but I see it as a style of politics and rhetoric that seeks to arouse a majority, or at least what their leaders passionately believe is a majority (like ‘moral majority’ today, who are plainly a minority), who are, have been, or think themselves to be outside the polity, scorned and despised by an educated establishment.” Meanwhile, this ideological proclivity and political inclination is prevalent in the current world and is practised quite often by the world leaders. And perhaps, this hypnotic political undercurrent is the return of ideological warfare.

This return of ideology is nothing less than the instigation of a new clandestine war. As history witnesses that two of the world wars began in the European continent, the same appears to be the situation this time again. This war may not be as ruinous as the previous two. But it will, for sure, spread organised violence to the minorities and the immigrants. It will fuel the fire of xenophobia. Ultimately, it will lead to what Jennifer Welsh called “The Return of History”. Because if history can repeat itself, why cannot it return?

Perhaps this history has returned with frenetic voice and warmongering leaders across the world. Though numerous historians including Niall Ferguson suggest that populist leaders and governments prove to be incompetent and short-lived, they leave a hazardous situation as the aftermath. They may or may not be elected, but the ideology they inject and inculcate into the minds of citizens is perilously poisonous. In the recent and current political scenario, this has been witnessed with intense vigour.

A fascist India under Narendra Modi is also leaving a similar gesture with an anti-Muslim policy with the new Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019

Take Donald Trump for example. His populist inclination and proclivity is well observed from his policies at home and at abroad. Beginning from the anti-immigrant grandiloquence in his campaign, he proved to be truly practical. He built a wall to halt Mexicans coming into the mainland of the USA. His travel ban put ban on seven Muslim countries. His isolationist policies in the international affairs are nothing less than a reversal return of the United States into isolationism. Worse, he made racist comments on a congresswomen when he tweeted that “the squad” should go back to “the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came”. Trump’s humiliating remarks, apolitical attitude and uncertain policies prove that he is propelling the United States into a white supremacist, xenophobic and Islamophobic regime. Collectively, it is the gradual rise of populism in the United States of America.

Trump is only one feature of the dangerous facets of populism. Others include Boris Johnson, who is bent on to exit Britain form the European Union being dubbed as Brexit. Johnson’s political inclination towards populism is so close to Trump that he is being called the ‘Britain Trump’. Moreover, though unelected, Le Pen left a similar mark on the face of politics in France. On the other hand, the rapid rise of Alternative for Germany party against Angela Markel is another propelling potency that is driving Germany in general and Europe in particular towards decline. And most pivotally, a fascist India under Narendra Modi is also leaving a similar gesture with an anti-Muslim policy with the new Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019.

The new wave of populism is thus a cataclysm for the world. It is an imminent jeopardy for the immigrants who move from the war-ridden areas such as Syria. It is a potent force that increases the fear factor for the religious minorities in general and Muslims in particular. If this wave is not curtailed from here, it will bring unheard and unseen consequences. What needs to be brought into the minds is that Hitler’s fascist policies were replete with populist discourse. His policies directed the world into a catastrophic war. Why do we want the return of another Hitler(s)? For sure, forgetting the history is the biggest mistake of humans. This nonchalant attitude towards history brings about the worst results.

The writer is a social researcher interested in various social and political issues