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In January 2023, supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Congress, presidential palace, and other government buildings in Brasília. The protesters insisted that the 2022 presidential election was stolen and this was similar to the attack on the US Capitol in Washington in January 2021. Right-wing populists in multiple countries, including Brazil, have drawn inspiration from former US President Donald Trump’s brazen political style. Right-wing populist movements have cross-national connections with right-wing leaders and organizations, including the Make America Great Again movement. The growing influence of right-wing populists in Western democracies is a threat to liberal democracy.
The transnational character of the contemporary far right enables the transmission of ideas, tactics, and narratives that attack liberal democracy. This is not the first time transnational far-right movements have emerged as a major force in international politics. The period between World War I and World War II saw similar crises and dissatisfaction with established parties and ideologies, which fueled the global rise of fascism. These developments highlight the threat posed by transnationally linked far-right movements to liberal democracies.
Defenders of liberal democracy need to cooperate to maximize their advantages and exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. Biden described Trump’s MAGA movement as “like semi-fascism.” Analogies with the interwar period are politically fraught because fascism remains a toxic label in Europe and North America. The defeat of the Axis powers in World War II and the revelations of their widespread atrocities, including the Holocaust, led to the stigma of fascism. Some far-right parties in Europe and North America have either publicly rejected the label “fascist” or given up any hope of governing at the national level.
In conclusion, the transnational character of the contemporary far right poses a threat to liberal democracy. The far right’s influence in Western democracies is a reminder of the dangers posed by transnationally linked far-right movements. The similarities between the interwar period and the present underscore the threat to liberal democracy and the need for cooperation among its defenders.