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Populism – Enemy of the State ?


Image: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Humanity is at crossroads; we are now living in an era where the defender of the common man is given the title of ‘enemy of the state’. Insurgent groups are one of them, groups worldwide which are rebellious against authority rules thus forming their own but another trend of populist politics are now appearing as a sub division of these insurgent groups.
These populist groups create policies that seem to cater to the material interests of the ordinary hard earning man, low income people or working-class groups, and even farmers. It creates the ideology for morally good people they claim to represent, thus shunning corrupt and illegitimate elites. These groups talk to people in a way that is understandable to everyday life and concerns but are the words just a tool redefined in a very specific linguistic style to pull people towards their ideas. The current world leaders certainly do think so, they have classed these groups as manipulating the public. But are they?
Or are they simply the good old-fashioned insurgents with extreme political ideology that rejects the current corrupt political consensus leading to laissez-faire ideas, ethnocentrism, and anti-elitism in societies, which isn’t a bad thing considering the climate of the world of politics. To masses however these insurgent groups stand and fight for believer’s rights, wisdom, and virtues of the common people.
So why do politics brand them as enemy of the state, for one these group denies the legitimacy of any opposition that may stand in their way and so break the conventions of normal democratic politics, and if that were to happen then the doors are thrown wide open for people to do what they want. To get a deeper understanding one must first understand the root cause to the dramatic rise of populism. The surge of these masses of groups may serve purpose in the troublesome world we live in; war, economic enslavement, state egotism, nationalism, financial poverty, restrictions, controls over the market and identity enslavement all which have created a bubble about to burst and it is these insurgent groups that dare to defy the world leaders and big buck companies to bring about a change.
A recent global survey titled Leader’s Report: The Future of Government Communications, the Guardian reports:

“Weakened and distrusted central governments around the world have been incapable of responding to the way the internet and social media have empowered populist but previously fringe groups, a unique worldwide survey of government communication chiefs has found.
The survey spanning 40 countries is the first international review to reveal how deeply governments feel they are losing control and authority over communications”

It is this very worldwide populist revolt that is constant sending shock waves beyond the halls of government and into the elite whether it be on Brexit, The US presidential candidates, the recent constitutional referendum in Italy, or insurgent groups in the Mid-east tumbling nations to their feet.
However not all groups are the same, as populism is often split between the left wing and the right wing, each having fundamental differences giving way to xenophobia, bigotry, racism and targeting mass migration as their agenda. So how far does the line go and how can we tell the difference between a group who is concerned for everyday matters than those who have their own agendas of destruction. Simple answer you can’t and neither is it a gamble you should be willing to take as world decisions towards peace and justice do not thrive on mere gambles.
Needless to say, insurgent groups in whichever form they may be are a good thing and should be accepted not just tolerated, these are groups who feel suffered and betrayed by the current system. The statement given by leaders worldwide has led to fearmongering people on populist groups is false in itself, in a matter of fact, the rising of groups to serve justice, to not follow the masses, and bring about a change is a good thing rather we should drive towards this essence and realise a deeper meaning that something is not working within the current governments, bureaucrats and leaders in the world and the unwillingness to adapt and allow populism groups to grow is out of fear that political decisions and actions can be contested and overturned.

written and published: Maria’m A S (editor)
References:
http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/dangerous-rise-of-populism
http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/03/this-one-chart-explains-the-rise-of-populism-in-2017
The Global Rise of Populism: Performance, Political Style, and Representation-Benjamin Moffitt, Stanford University Press, 2016
About Mary S (39 Articles)
Author, editor, publisher and researcher.
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