Starting with London, where the Conservative Theresa May holds sway, to the distant shores of the new World and the new slogan of 'Trump-ism', to Germany where CDU's Angela Merkel looks strong, and of course India, where the indomitable Narendra Modi is going from strength to strength... The World, as I see it, is moving inexorably to the right...
Another interesting phenomena that I see in today's world is that while most of the people in these countries prefer conservative rightist strong leaders in their own country, they expect that the rest of the World will go on it is prior liberal form.. a wish that others will be liberal in their outlook towards you, while you will be conservative in your outlook towards them...
An Indian I was speaking to, was bemoaning the results of the new referendum at Turkey giving Erdogan sweeping powers, complaining how the folks at the immigration now ask a load of questions at the entry points in the US, his inability to find work and stay in UK... and at the same time condoning the move to conservative politics in India, his home country... accompanied by a move to a more restricted outlook where there are increasing norms round what, where and when you can do things...
Shifting Right is not necessarily a bad thing... but it should not be accompanied by a loss of personal liberty and onset of mass xenophobia...
And are things going to change?
Not immediately, I think... with the notable exception of Canada where Trudeau is breaking new grounds for the liberals after a decade of conservative rule, the picture in most other former liberal strongholds is firmly moving right.
And do people mind?
I think most don't... as long as basic requirements are met...
It would be well to remember Ben Franklin's famous remarks “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”
No comments:
Post a Comment