These three words are defining the attacks that democracy in the world is currently suffering.
Populism is the convergence of political disenchantment caused by frustrated representation, the dysfunctions of the democratic regime and the lack of solutions to social problems. For these reasons, it cannot be reduced to its demagogic dimension.
Populism is the parasitic part of democracy.
In important countries and others not so much, populism has emerged just as totalitarianism did in the 20th century.
Populism rests on several simplifications. One is to abuse the fact that he represents the people. This is an abstraction, convenient and misleading. Another characteristic is that they attribute corruption as its essence to the representative system. And no less important is to consider that what binds society is its identity and not the quality of social relations.
To overcome these fallacies, a more interactive democracy is needed and a redefinition of the social contract based on the search for a more egalitarian society, as well as a majority government with protection of minorities.
Currently, the most important populist leaders manage to support each other and create a network of influences. Russia, Iran, China, India and Turkey have helped Maduro avoid the sanctions that were applied to his country. And Putin is the leader of the populist rulers and offers a logic to follow.
Political polarization is what is experienced in the United States. Trump and Kamala Harris have totally different positions. Harris is from the political center and Trump is a right-wing populist. Democrats finally got over the panic they had in the face of a Trump who blatantly insults them. In addition to Trump’s racist position, there is a global danger that if he wins there will be a breakdown of the Euro-Atlantic security axis. The politicians of the Democratic Party and the leaders of the European Union have already realized this. There is a conviction that Trump will destroy institutional regulations and facilitate a greater role for countries governed by populists such as Russia, China, India and Türkiye.
Post-truth is the management of false beliefs that has the support of technological oligarchs who identify with Trump and Putin. Official information services are ignored and impose attractive phrases for popular consumption.
Putin, instead of explaining the reasons for the invasion of Ukraine, said that he was fighting fascism. Maduro also declared the opposition to his government fascist. Trump, instead of making an educational offer, said he “loves the poorly educated.” Regarding Latin American immigrants, he said that “they are poisoning the blood of our country.” It must be remembered that the United States Federal Reserve recognized that in the Covid-19 years, migrant labor saved the United States from falling into a recession.
