Globally, democracies are backsliding and populism is rising. Why?

Around the world, democracies are retreating while authoritarian populists gain ground. When people face economic stress, inequality, and climate anxiety, what do they want from a national leader? Immediate order and security.

Strongmen exploit this need, offering simple solutions for complex problems. Autocrats understand that when adversity strikes and social institutions are weak, democracies die from within.

This dynamic known as the toxic triangle. And today, it has a strangle-hold on many nations with liberal traditions. Stressful environments (social, economic, and climate) create a stressed public whose needs are not being met by their governments.

This is fertile ground for autocrats who pretend to be champions of the people. So-called populists offer siren calls for simple and immediate solutions. But what happens when populists fail to deliver on their promises?

In a series of forthcoming posts, I will explore the fallacies of this populist messaging that liberal values are “evil.” I will expose the self-serving nature of these autocrats who only value their own self-enrichment. You will learn that strongman populists are false gods.

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