Political Turmoil: A Dive into the Origins Pt 1
Implications
In the current global context, tensions are far from isolated events. They trace back to a snowball effect in geopolitics, often originating from a clash of ideologies. However, the real challenge lies in our inclination to implement short-term solutions for complex, overarching problems. This article aims to explore the escalating political divisions and tensions between the right and left.
In the 1950s, democratic institutions and the government enjoyed high regard and trust. But over time, this trust has withered, leading to widespread skepticism towards elected officials. Today, the act of voting is less about backing a candidate who aligns with our worldview and more about tribalistic voting, which only fuels our divisions. To bridge this divide, we must delve into the causes of the decline in faith in our institutions.
Several factors have contributed to the erosion of trust in our institutions. The rise of expensive wars with no direct benefit to the average citizen, laws favoring corporations rather than workers, and the perception of politicians being corrupt have all played their part. As a result, there has been a significant decline in American trust in democratic institutions. A large portion of the US population, from both the left and right, now prefers an autocratic leader over a democratic one.
The independent recently reported that 1/3 of americans are inclined to accept authoritarianism or better said a strong authoritarian-like leader:
Although the study in the article surveyed 30,000 participants across 24 countries, it illustrates the growing desire for strong leadership, as seen in the “popularity”, which could very much be a false narrative, of authoritative figures worldwide. Another consideration is the current cultural movements, as seen in the conflict between tolerance and feminism vs the desire for patriotic masculinity among young men:
“Global democracy is deeply intertwined with cultural trends and prevailing societal values. In regions where emancipative values have not developed robustly, there is more vulnerability to autocratic tendencies” (Brunkert, Kruse, & Welzel, 2018).
“An emerging trend sees young men in various cultural contexts appropriating patriotic and traditional narratives to shape their identity and social status. This often involves rejecting feminist ideals or reasserting traditional gender roles in response to perceived threats from these movements” (Elliston, 2004).
Considering the above research, there are evident connections between the popularity of strong male leaders like Putin in Russia, Xi in China, Erdogan in Turkey, Modi in India, and Trump in the United States to the rise of anti-feminist and LGBTQ acceptance. But why is this clash occurring now?
Pinpointing the beginning of this clash is challenging, as today’s conflict mirrors the disputes of the past in a new form. Monarchy vs. Republics, Federalists vs. Democratic Republics, Slave Owners vs. Abolitionists, Imperialism vs. Anti-Imperialism, Communism vs. Fascism, Democracy vs. Communism, and Liberal Democracy vs. Authoritarianism.
This topic requires a deep dive from multiple angles. Stay tuned as we unravel more on this compelling subject in our upcoming posts.
The Growth Times 
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