Opinion
A historic event is unfolding in India as farmers protest en masse
By Kanwar Hazrah December 28, 2020
The protests are a harsh spotlight on the true nature of the populist rightwing forces that seek to harness hyper-nationalist rhetoric and majority grievance politics to give away public riches to private interests.
In Punjab farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pictured, appears to have finally met his match, writes Kanwar Hazrah. Photograph courtesy of Commons Wikimedia
The last decade has witnessed a rise of populist and strongmen leaders in many countries. The United States, India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom elected governments that rose through dog-whistle slogans against corrupt establishments. Often, these movements begin with nationalism as a tool to counter opposition and control the majority. This has turned out to be an effective strategy for seizing control in a democracy but it almost always needs an enemy to keep the base energized. Eventually, such political movements end up alienating several sections of the society. Therefore, the success is then dependent upon dividing the opposition, marginalizing the minority, and discrediting anyone who cannot be convinced.
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