THE POLITICAL CORNER
History teaches us that when far-right parties gain power in Italy and Germany, it is a reason for concern. Though it has become somewhat normalized, Italy has now been governed for two years by a party with roots in the Fascist Party, whose prominent members unabashedly display busts of Dictator Mussolini in their offices. Meanwhile, as of yesterday, in two of Germany’s 16 Länder—Thuringia and Saxony, home to 6 million people—over 30% of voters supported the AfD, a far-right party whose leaders are frequently penalized for using language reminiscent of the Nazi era.
What are the policies that resonate so strongly with Germans, especially in the East, and with other right-wing factions worldwide? They include blocking immigration, reducing or withdrawing from international commitments, and ceasing support for countries fighting for their freedom, like Ukraine. The underlying trend is clear: a retreat into self-interest, a refusal to help others, and a deep suspicion of anything 'different.'
Why does this happen? Partly, it’s human nature—a reluctance, or perhaps laziness, to understand those who are different, to make sacrifices for those we don’t know, to trust those who don’t seem 'like one of us.' This tendency has always been present; in normal times, it is kept in check, remaining a fringe element in the political spectrum—a mere 1% or 2% of semi-fanatics on the edges.
But when times are tough, when the future seems bleak, the monster emerges from its lair. Just as a century ago, today, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change are leading more and more people to forget the lessons our grandparents and kindergarten teachers tried to instill in us as children: be kind to others, don’t think only of yourself, don’t hate those who look or think differently, use reason. Instead, we fall back on finding an enemy to blame for all our troubles and stop helping those who are worse off—whether they are struggling nations or people living in misery.
