The global landscape has observed a significant emergence of populist movements in the political arena, spanning regions from Europe to Asia and America, with a notable rise of far-right ideologies. This phenomenon bears profound implications not only for the respective nations involved but also for the international community at large. Defining the term ‘populism’ poses challenges due to its diverse manifestations across different contexts and historical periods. Furthermore, it is essential to distinguish between a populist leader and a merely popular figure. Scholars typically converge on the following two assertions regarding populist leaders: they must profess to represent the interests of ordinary citizens, and these citizens must be positioned in opposition to an elite establishment that hinders their ability to realize their political aspirations.
Beyond Europe, the rise of populist leaders in the two largest democracies, the United States and India merits attention. President Trump has commenced his second term in office following his re-election in November 2024. In articulating his agenda for the current term, he underscored that his administration’s policies would prioritize “America first” and strive to prevent any entities from exploiting the nation. Furthermore, he asserted that the United States confronts challenges posed by immigration. He also announced the nation’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which is designed to combat climate change. Reflecting the themes of his address, President Trump has enacted a series of executive orders, including alterations in various national departments and modifications to the United States’ international relations.
The executive orders about America’s international relations encompass the reinforcement of security at the southern border to address illegal immigration, a stringent approach to the financial support of undocumented immigrants, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, cessation of initiatives aimed at reversing climate change, emphasis on renewable energy sources as opposed to non-renewable alternatives, and the revocation of America’s membership in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Furthermore, President Trump instituted a travel ban during his initial term, affecting six Muslim-majority countries, which is currently under reassessment. These policies are fundamentally rooted in far-right ideology.
India has surpassed China in population, thereby establishing itself as the nation with the largest demographic in the world. Consequently, India has witnessed a significant assertiveness of the far-right governance under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who have been in power since 2014. The policies of the BJP are fundamentally rooted in the ideology of Hindutva, which poses a threat to the secular democratic fabric of India by advocating for an ethno-religious Hindu Rashtra, effectively marginalizing minority groups. Under this ideology, Prime Minister Modi’s policies have severely undermined the interests of minorities residing in India, particularly the Muslim community. The framing of an “us” versus “them” narrative has been prominent, with “us” representing the majority Hindu population and “them” referring to the Muslim minority. Notable anti-Muslim policies that have garnered international attention since 2018 include the Citizenship Amendment Bill of 2019, the Indian National Register of 2019, and the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A, which previously conferred special status upon Kashmir within the Indian polity.
Numerous parallels can be identified between the far-right policies of Donald Trump and Narendra Modi. To begin with, both leaders exemplify populist ideologies, which implies that, through their far-right agendas, they confront prevailing socio-economic conditions and foster a belief among the populace that they will alleviate the current challenges. Furthermore, each leader has redefined nationalism to encompass their supporters. In the case of Trump, nationalism is manifest in his slogan “America First,” indicating that his policies will prioritise American interests, even at the expense of others. This is evident in his stringent immigration policies. Conversely, Modi’s brand of nationalism is rooted in Hindu nationalism, often referred to as Hindutva, which posits that Hindustan is exclusively the homeland for Hindus, and it is imperative to restore the historical glory of Hindu culture. This ideological framework has resulted in a series of policies that negatively impact the Muslim minority in India.
Thirdly, both individuals have capitalised on the vulnerabilities of their respective opposition parties. Populist parties have gained popularity due to the decline of robust opposing factions that have failed to address the socio-economic concerns of the populace. In the context of the United States, Donald Trump has exploited the weaknesses of the Democratic Party. At the same time, simultaneously, Narendra Modi has taken advantage of the deficiencies in the policies of the Indian National Congress. Ultimately, in the era of social media, both Trump and Modi have effectively leveraged media platforms to their advantage. The rise of populist leaders in democratic nations necessitates a re-evaluation of the core values upheld by democracy.
[Photo by the White House, via Wikimedia Commons]
Tabish Munir is a research scholar at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
Read the full article here
