Could there be another Hitler? The rise of populist leaders in Europe and the wider world has caused political commentators to warn of a return to the 1930s.
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Demagogues' delight: 2023 in politics
Could there be another Hitler? The rise of populist leaders in Europe and the wider world has caused political commentators to warn of a return to the 1930s.
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What's happening?
A politician with distinctive blond hair stands in front of an audience of cheering activists. Shouting into the microphone, he promises to make the country great again.
You may think of Donald Trump in the United States, but this is actually Geert Wilders from the Netherlands. On 23 November his party won the Dutch election, despite far-right views on immigration, Islam and the Europe Union.
Wilders is not the only successful politician with extreme views. In fact, many think that we will see more and more victories by such candidates.
Autumn saw election victories for the far-left leaders Javier Milei in Argentina and Robert Fico in SlovakiaA country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.. Turkey, India, Italy, Hungary and Russia all have nationalistsThe Nationalists were loyal to the Chinese ruler Chiang Kai-Shek. After being defeated by the communists in the civil war, Chiang remained ruler of Taiwan until his death in 1975. as leaders.
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These politicians are known as populistsPopulism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups., claiming to represent the will of the people. And they are on the rise: one-third of Europeans now vote for populist far-left or far-right parties.
Populist leaders treat those who disagree with them as enemies. They keep hold of power by ignoring the democratic process and attacking religious or ethnicRelating to a group of people who share a race, nationality or cultural group. minorities.
But recent elections in Brazil and Poland saw the far-right leaders replaced. At the beginning of 2023, the number of populist leaders around the world was at its lowest for two decades.
Next year sees roughly fifty elections taking place around the world. Populist leaders will play a major role, even if none of them become the next Hitler.
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Could there be another Hitler?
Yes! One in three voters in Europe choose far-right or far-left politicians. History teaches us the danger of populist leaders.
No! Making scary comparisons to the past only confuses things. In reality, we are electing fewer populists than a few years ago.
Keywords
Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Nationalists - The Nationalists were loyal to the Chinese ruler Chiang Kai-Shek. After being defeated by the communists in the civil war, Chiang remained ruler of Taiwan until his death in 1975.
Populists - Populism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups.
Ethnic - Relating to a group of people who share a race, nationality or cultural group.
Demagogues’ delight: 2023 in politics
The right stuff: Adding to the incumbents, populist politicians are triumphing in elections worldwide. Glossary
Slovakia - A country in central Europe. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.
Nationalists - The Nationalists were loyal to the Chinese ruler Chiang Kai-Shek. After being defeated by the communists in the civil war, Chiang remained ruler of Taiwan until his death in 1975.
Populists - Populism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups.
Ethnic - Relating to a group of people who share a race, nationality or cultural group.