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What type of politician is in the best position to combat the rise of far-right?

As the title asks, discuss...

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A leftist whose ideology is rooted in progressive class politics as opposed to regressive identity politics. Bernie Sanders sounds a solid option.
Reply 2
As above, a classical liberal. One that defends actual liberal values that have been eroded by both the modern left and right. Protecting secularism, democracy, free speech, economic freedom, science etc. and more importantly recognising the enemies of such values instead of cozying up to them e.g. the left's cowardly attitude towards Islamism that has not only allowed Islamists to thrive but for the right to take advantage by bigoted means and win the case in many people's eyes.
At this point probably a centrist
the far right is not rising, conservatism is rising, if you think we are heading towards Fascism you are wrong.
We've spent so long being ruled by a left liberal 'progressive' ideology that anything vaguely right of centre is immediately castigated as 'far right/fascist'
Original post by jambojim97
A leftist whose ideology is rooted in progressive class politics as opposed to regressive identity politics. Bernie Sanders sounds a solid option.


Nonsense.

The only group of people Sanders represented was the millennials. To win America you need the working class, as Trump proved.
Original post by Reality Check
We've spent so long being ruled by a left liberal 'progressive' ideology that anything vaguely right of centre is immediately castigated as 'far right/fascist'


I'd say the opposite. Our politics has shifted to the right over the last few decades to the point that anything remotely left wing is just derided as "socialist" or "extreme left", even when we're talking about totally reasonable and popular policies that have evidence behind them.
No one can. The far-right are here and we're here to stay.
The type with military and agent powers who isn't far right.
Original post by Mathemagicien
This is false. Nationalism is rising. Conservatism is still dying. Fascism is generally left-wing towards the 'in-group' (i.e. citizens), and right-wing towards the 'out-group' (i.e. xenos). This is why fascism is being so successful - it is riding both the anti-globalism, anti-austerity, and broadly anti-capitalism wave, at the same time as riding the anti-xenos wave. If it weren't for its ugly history, fascists would have been elected by large margins all across Europe already.


Can you actually give me an example of a recently prominent fascist policy?
Classical liberalism, economic liberalism, culture liberalism and centrism. These ideologies are the only ones around that have a chance against a regressive movement like the far right.

Frankly the democrats have very strong career politicians with a thorough of the economy and realises that economic liberalism is the only way to convince fanatics that this populist revolt is a mere distraction from the issues of today.

I for one am happy that Trump is president. The white majority have made their opinion very clear and Trump being in power should tell them how dangerous and wrong it was of them to look at Trump as their saviour. The Democrats have the next 4 years to see where they went wrong and bring people to realise how bad Trump is as president and what made them think Clinton was a good leader.

I predict a huge majority for the Democrats in 2020.
Original post by midnightice
Can you actually give me an example of a recently prominent fascist policy?


Do you read the news?
A right wing autocrat like Salazar who can maintain traditional values and corporatist economics while shutting down extremist leftist and fascist groups.

I don't know if one exists.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by DirtyJesus
Do you read the news?


Yes, please give me one.
Original post by Mathemagicien
There aren't any specifically fascist policies. There are sets of policies associated with fascism - namely nationalist policies, nativist policies, (somewhat) socialist policies, technocratic policies, ...

I wouldn't call UKIP or Germany's AfD fascist. But Front National, Jobbik, and similar parties most certainly are.


'Fascism' gets thrown around too much, and it's an insult to the millions who have died from it. 'Nationalist' would be the best term to describe the likes of Le Pen. Fascism is a gross exaggeration and demeans the term.
Original post by Mathemagicien
The Front National has been for decades very consistent in their political agenda:
They favor traditional French identity, they don't want it to change, and they see immigration as the root cause of France's problems.
They consider that France has lost sovereignty, so they hate the EU and would like to leave it and get back to the former French Franc currency.
They see the other political parties as a coalition of people serving their own interests against the interest of the French people, and assign them the responsibility for gradually destroying the French identity and nation.
They position themselves as victims of these parties, since obviously in their rhetoric, the Front National is working for the French people, the other parties against.

Going by the more reasonable definition of fascism (rather than the hyped-up 'far-right' definition):

What is Fascism? (Click to expand)



Hmmm, it's pretty hard to define it, but in my opinion it shouldn't be used given its historic connotation with Hitler and Mussolini. You can't conflate the likes of Le Pen with the barbaric mass genocide under those regimes.
Original post by midnightice
Hmmm, it's pretty hard to define it, but in my opinion it shouldn't be used given its historic connotation with Hitler and Mussolini. You can't conflate the likes of Le Pen with the barbaric mass genocide under those regimes.


Saying it shouldnt be used because of its connotations is undermining ideological similarities between Le Pen and Trump and Fascism.
Original post by DirtyJesus
Saying it shouldnt be used because of its connotations is undermining ideological similarities between Le Pen and Trump and Fascism.


If anything, Trump and Le Pen want to eradicate radical Islamic terrorism (a fascist-like ideology) from their country. They do say the new fascists will be the anti-fascists...but then you'll get caught up in a never-ending loop.
Someone who can unite the centrists and moderates.

If they can do that they'll outnumber those on either extreme comfortably and gain power.

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