The Uncomfortable Truth About Trump-Style Politics: Adapting to the New Normal

The Global Progress Action Summit in Toronto offered a striking reflection of the international left’s evolving perspective on the far right. No longer is it considered a fleeting anomaly or an aberration that will inevitably correct itself; instead, center-left leaders are grappling with the uncomfortable truth that Trump-style politics has become a persistent feature of modern democracy.

This shift in attitude is not merely a response to the continued electoral successes of far-right parties across the globe, but also a recognition that the old establishment’s traditional narrative – one of gradual progress and inevitable return to power – no longer holds sway. As Pete Buttigieg observed during an interview at the conference, “the evidence on this theory is in, and it has failed.” The Biden administration’s attempts to deliver economic prosperity and redistribute wealth have not sufficed to neutralize the far right’s appeal.

Liberals must confront the reality that their approach to countering the far right – which often relies on a simplistic assumption that economic anxiety is the primary driver of support for extremist parties – is no longer tenable. Social science consistently shows that concerns about cultural and demographic change are far more central to the far right’s base than economic grievances.

The Canadian experience highlights the limitations of relying solely on economic success as a guarantor against far-right electoral victories. Even in countries like Canada, where the center-left Liberal government has endured for years, other factors such as cultural identity and demographic anxiety play a significant role.

To defeat the far right, liberals must redefine victory not as the elimination of their ideological opponents but as defeating them in the same way they would any other normal political opponent. This approach acknowledges that the far right is now an integral part of the democratic landscape, and that attempts to wish it away or dismiss its appeal will only further marginalize liberal voices.

The task ahead for liberals will be to develop a more nuanced understanding of the far right’s appeal and craft policies that address the root causes of their support. This may involve confronting uncomfortable truths about demographic change, cultural anxiety, and the impact of globalization on local communities. It also requires acknowledging that economic success alone cannot neutralize the far right’s influence.

As liberals move forward in this new landscape, they must prioritize a more pragmatic approach – one that takes into account the complexities of modern democracy and the ways in which cultural identity, demographic change, and economic anxiety intersect to fuel support for extremist parties. Only by adapting to these realities can center-left leaders hope to effectively counter the far right’s persistent appeal.

Ultimately, this new normal will require liberals to engage in a delicate balancing act – one that seeks to address the root causes of far-right sentiment while also acknowledging its entrenched presence within modern democracy. It is a difficult and uncomfortable truth, but one that must be confronted if liberal voices are to remain relevant in an increasingly divided world.