Published in Time Magazine Online, March 2024.
In late 2023, voters in Argentina and the Netherlands elected right-wing populists promising dramatic changes. But these two countries aren’t alone. Around the world, nations have become deeply polarized. Tense elections involving far right candidates have occurred across the globe in Peru, Israel, and Italy, among others. And, of course, the United States is headed for another nail-biter of an election in 2024.
At the same time, violent conflicts have escalated. A recent report found that in 2022 deaths from internal and external conflicts increased 96% from the previous year. The carnage in Israel and Gaza will likely drive these numbers even higher.
What could be the cause of these disturbing trends?
We appear to be in the midst of an era of what I label “defensive nationalism.” Defensive nationalism is a form of national-populism, or a people’s movement focused on protecting the nation against globalizing forces, whether in the form of trade, finance, or immigration.
Defensive nationalist movements emerge when revolutionary changes in transportation and communications shorten time and reduce distance. These globalizing changes produce wealth and internationalism. But they also dramatically disrupt societies, generating widespread unease and apprehension. Populist politicians capitalize on the generalized fear, painting international forces as a threat that must be countered. Economic protectionism is made to seem paramount, diplomacy takes a back seat, and the military becomes the bulwark of the nation.
The result is an inward populist turn that pushes many people toward radical domestic politics and nations towards violence.
Read the full piece at https://time.com/6695953/defensive-nationalism/