The rise of the far right is sweeping the world. The re-emergence of populism and "strongmen"—especially in the West—is changing the nature of governance in countries once considered bastions of democracy.
Fascism was believed to have been rooted out after World War II, which saw the triumph of Western liberal democracy and capitalism. However, the resurgence of the far right has led many to realise the naivety of their assumption.
John Gray, a British philosopher and author of False Dawn, believes that today's Western societies are reliving the experiences of the 1920s and 30s. Back then, liberal and leftist forces were preoccupied with their own conflicts, allowing fascists and Nazis the space to recruit followers. This was a time when power and oppression became fixtures of leadership that had little interest in the rule of law and values based on equality.
Contrary to what Enlightenment philosophers opined since the 18th century, the progression toward a more just and humane society is not a given. Society can relapse into old and draconian systems of governance. This drastic juxtaposition can be seen in Latin America, where societies coexist with powerful cartels whose leaders rule with a medieval iron fist.
