Donald ducks

Racism is a terrible sin. Yet it seems, these days, to have the potential to produce political leverage. And politicians are sadly prepared to use it.

Back in July, President Donald Trump was rightly in hot water for tweets concerning four Democratic congresswomen of black or ethnic minority background that they should ‘go back’ to the countries they were from, despite the fact that they are all American citizens, three of whom were actually born in the United States. The House of Representatives passed a motion condemning the President’s words. Trump ducked the criticism by saying that his comments were not racist, but to do with the fact that the radical left-wing politics of these women is against what America stands for as a society. Since then, at the beginning of August, there have been two more mass shootings in the US, in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, at least one of which targeted non-white people. Trump responded by saying ‘hatred has no place in America.’ But is he giving mixed messages?

National populism and liberalism

With an election just over the horizon and Trump seeking a second term, what this is really about is the President trying to stir the fires of national populism among American voters. Commentators saw his comments about the four congresswomen as his attempt to stick an ‘anti-American’ label on the Democratic Party. He was originally elected on the slogan ‘make America great again’ and he is now persisting with that idea via a different route. National populism (closely akin to fascism in the eyes of many) is on the rise in many countries, and certainly played a part in the Brexit vote. It can be seen as a grassroots reaction against the liberalism which has dominated the West for a long time. With immigration, street crime and the LGBT agenda no doubt in mind, President Putin of Russia mischievously commented this summer that liberalism ‘has come into conflict with the overwhelming majority of the population’ as he determines to justify his own form of heavy-handed government. He may want to make trouble for the West, but is there an element of truth in his words? If we ask about the roots of national populism we can detect at least four.

Four losses

First, there has been a loss of trust. Ordinary voters see that many promises made by politicians have not been kept. The political class will say anything, and even write it into their party’s manifesto, in order to get elected. But then the promises are forgotten. Also, policies which were never mentioned at a General Election, suddenly become a major priority to be pushed through Parliament at all costs. Without trust in mainstream politicians the door opens to those with more extreme views. Here we find Mr. Trump.

Second, there has been a loss of identity in many indigenous populations. We are living at a time of great social upheaval and many people do not know who they are any more. The country they grew up in, no longer exists. Their culture has gone or is marginalised. It would be unfair to blame this all on immigration. A large slice of the present unnerving changes are to do with new technology and a digital world which makes the past appear irrelevant. But with the loss of identity, slogans, like ‘make America great again’ promise a return to the security of the past.

Third, there has been a loss of hope for many ordinary people. This is especially to do with the way our liberal, market-place capitalism has produced an ever growing gulf between the rich and the poor, even in our own country. The way media presenters, for example, continue to earn vast salaries undreamed of by the majority of the population while subtly framing the news in liberal terms, exasperates many of their viewers. And meanwhile the system impoverishes. Food banks and charity shops seem to be everywhere.

Fourth, there has been a loss of sympathy. The politicians frequently seem totally out of touch with those they claim to represent. It is this disaffection with mainstream politicians which Donald Trump tapped into last time and he is hoping to do the same again.

For such reasons as these national populism emerges and along with it the use of racist insinuations. It’s all wrong. But let’s remember, the left is just as capable of forms of racism as the right. Anti-Semitism in Corbyn’s Labour Party isn’t going away. And how often are ‘old white males’ blamed for the world’s troubles (age-ism, sexism, and racism all in one there) and have to just take it from feminists and others and say nothing?