Global Fight against right-wing nationalism
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,(R), hugs and consoles a woman as she visited Kilbirnie Mosque to lay flowers among tributes to Christchurch attack victims in Wellington.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
The rise right-wing nationalism that saw the killing of fifty persons at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand remains the key topic of international interest this week, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern emerging as a leader in the fight against this white-supremacist ideology and politics.
Her call for a global fight to root out racist right-wing ideology has led to a new thinking in international affairs that have for long been largely confined to the extremism and terrorism of Islamist groups and its condemnation, while the lift in white nationalism has been largely played down in world politics.
The tragedy in New Zealand, with 50 Muslims killed and a similar number wounded, has drawn attention to the white-supremacist thinking on the rise in the United States, under the Donald Trump presidency, as well as other right-wing populist political trends that are gaining ground in Europe – especially in Poland, Hungary and Italy, and its growing influence in France and the UK too.
Making her ‘global call’ against anti-racism Prime Minister Ardern said what New Zealand experienced “was violence brought against us by someone who grew up and learned their ideology somewhere else. If we want to make sure globally that we are a safe and tolerant and inclusive world, we cannot think about this in terms of boundaries.”
She defended New Zealand's record on accepting refugees, saying: “We are a welcoming country. I utterly reject the idea that in any way in trying to ensure that we have a system that looks after those who choose to call New Zealand home; that we have perpetuated an environment where this kind of ideology can exist.”
She emphasized the need to weed out right-wing nationalism “where it exists and make sure that we never create an environment where it can flourish”.
She also said “He obviously had a range of reasons for committing this atrocious terrorist attack. Lifting his profile was one of them. And that’s something that we can absolutely deny him….One thing I can assure you — you won’t hear me speak his name”.
The right-with nationalist attack in New Zealand and the response from PM Jacinta Ardern has revived anti-right wing politics in the US and the West, with indications of a rise in opposition to the populist politics in these countries, largely driven by opposition to immigration and alleged fears of dominance in society by the immigrant populations. The coming presidential elections in the US in 2020, is expected to see a strong clashes between white-supremacist right-wing nationalists, and the more liberal political forces there.
Political analysts are of the view that the New Zealand tragedy caused by right-wing terrorism, and the response there, would lead to a major re-assessment of political trends and realities in the world and that would give strength to the liberal politics that has been weakened in the recent decades.
In an important addition from the New Zealand situation is the growing international concerns about the role and power of social media, and the calls for better management and control of them, following the extensive showing the New Zealand terrorist attack on Facebook before being pulled down. This concern about the rising uncontrolled power of social media will also be one of major political and social reform interest in the coming years, to prevent emerging threats to Freedom of Information and Speech.
Brexit bedlam
The United Kingdom is in the whirl of a major political crisis with Prime Minister Theresa May having to seek an extension from the European Union for the UK departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May’s stay in the office is at stake as well as the possibility of a clear and quick exit from the EU.
The crisis over Theresa May’s failure to reach understandings with the other political parties in the House of Commons was made worse by the Speaker of the House John Bercow, ruling the motion on the Agreement with EU over Brexit could not be brought again to the Commons again in the same or substantially the same content. This motion was recently defeated in the Commons twice, with very large majorities. The Speaker quoted a 1604 ruling that no defeated motion could be tabled for voting again in the same session of the House. Theresa May has been pushing this motion – her draft Agreement with the EU, kicking the can down as time for the exit from the EU is due on March 29 – just a few days more. She has been hoping to get more votes as the time for exit draws near and no other option is found.
She is now in a situation where a request has been made to the EU to get an extension till June 30 this year for the UK to leave the EU. The Head of the EU Council has agreed to an extension, but with the UK Parliament showing what exactly it needs. This is the trap Theresa May is now caught it. She is at talks with the EU this week, and will have to return to the Commons early next week, with whatever new or amended proposal she could present.
Her failure to get a favourable vote in the Commons could well lead to her being compelled to resign from the office of Prime Minister. It would also lead to a much longer extension being sought from the EU for the UK Exit, leading to considerable political differences in the UK, and leading to a general election.
The UK negotiations with the EU has gone on for more than two years, led by Theresa May, with no serious consultations with the other political parties, including the Opposition Labour and the Scottish Nationalists. At a general election held last year Theresa May her Conservatives lost their parliamentary majority, and is now dependent on the Northern Irish Democratic Unionists with 10 votes. They have voted against May’s Brexit Deal, especially over the “Irish Back Stop” – a possible free trade border with the EU, which is a major issue of conflict on Brexit.
Recent debates on Brexit in the Commons have seen Theresa May come in for strong criticism from both the government and opposition benches, and increasing concerns by political analyst about the trend of democracy and the parliamentary process in the UK. Breaking away from the EU, with which the UK has been a member for over 40 years, is certainly causing much turmoil in UK politics, hardly expected when the referendum to leave the EU was held nearly three years ago. Theresa May seems to be dragging the Conservative Party, the UK and herself into a political bedlam.
Indian Polls – Opposition and Social Media
With the Indian Polls due to begin on April 11 the opposition parties, especially the Congress led alliances remain in disarray. At midweek the Congress had not finalized its arrangements in the crucial states of West Bengal, Bihar and in Delhi. There is opposition to the Congress tying up with the Aam Aadmi Party that currently holds Delhi; there are disagreements on the number of seats to be given to Congress in West Bengal, and disagreements with leaders of the Rashtriya Janatha Dal on seat alignments in Bihar.
These unsettled divisions in the Opposition give strength to the Narendra Modi led Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) and its strong Hindu allies. The recent weeks have also seen key Congress and pro-Congress political leaders in states joining the BJP, raising new problems to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
These shifting of old political links and alliances are much to do with the older voters. However, there is increased interest in how the current political trends will affect the new voters in India, who could play a crucial role in deciding on the future politics in the country.
The uncertainty of the young electorate, the 18-19-year-olds with little political baggage are seen as possible key players in the coming polls, with many parties trying to grab the leaders of these youth, who could be very strong supporters and bring in many young followers. The coming election would have about 100 million first time voters, which is a draw to all political parties.
These new voters are better informed, more educated and good organisers too. They key players in the election – the BJP and Congress – are giving importance to attracting more of the young voters, who could be a powerful extra drive to their traditional voter base.
There is no indication yet as to which major political party or alliance could effectively draw these young voters in substantial numbers to make a major positive change in their electoral campaigns. These youth also add the advantage of digital connectivity which is also playing a major role in the campaigning for the coming general election, with the spread of smartphones in the country. One commentator has said: “With the spread of 4G connectivity to rural India and cheaper smartphones, the 2019 battle is likely to be fought as much on phones as in the streets. Maybe, the younger lot will find phones more handy”.
The BJP will continue its strategy of presenting Narendra Modi as the leader image for youth, which was seen in the 2014 polls that saw the BJP win with a big majority in the Lok Sabha. However, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, remains a good attraction to youth voters, but he will have to show more leadership on issues that affect the youth most today. This will also have to do with the effective manner in which the Congress Party carries out its propaganda in the social media, where the BJP and Narendra Modi have already established a strong base of support.
Coming to the role of social media in the polls, India’s Election Commission has formulated a voluntary code of ethics that social media platforms have agreed to follow during the next two months.
In a meeting this week, representatives from Facebook, Google, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms agreed to take expedited action on any reported violations on their platforms. The Election Commission has ruled that all paid advertising on social media must be pre-certified.
India has been grappling with fake news on Facebook and WhatsApp for months – on matters that have led to considerable violence and issues of caste and religion, becoming an issue of major priority in this election.
Her call for a global fight to root out racist right-wing ideology has led to a new thinking in international affairs that have for long been largely confined to the extremism and terrorism of Islamist groups and its condemnation, while the lift in white nationalism has been largely played down in world politics.
The tragedy in New Zealand, with 50 Muslims killed and a similar number wounded, has drawn attention to the white-supremacist thinking on the rise in the United States, under the Donald Trump presidency, as well as other right-wing populist political trends that are gaining ground in Europe – especially in Poland, Hungary and Italy, and its growing influence in France and the UK too.Making her ‘global call’ against anti-racism Prime Minister Ardern said what New Zealand experienced “was violence brought against us by someone who grew up and learned their ideology somewhere else. If we want to make sure globally that we are a safe and tolerant and inclusive world, we cannot think about this in terms of boundaries.”
She defended New Zealand's record on accepting refugees, saying: “We are a welcoming country. I utterly reject the idea that in any way in trying to ensure that we have a system that looks after those who choose to call New Zealand home; that we have perpetuated an environment where this kind of ideology can exist.”
She emphasized the need to weed out right-wing nationalism “where it exists and make sure that we never create an environment where it can flourish”.
She also said “He obviously had a range of reasons for committing this atrocious terrorist attack. Lifting his profile was one of them. And that’s something that we can absolutely deny him….One thing I can assure you — you won’t hear me speak his name”.
The right-with nationalist attack in New Zealand and the response from PM Jacinta Ardern has revived anti-right wing politics in the US and the West, with indications of a rise in opposition to the populist politics in these countries, largely driven by opposition to immigration and alleged fears of dominance in society by the immigrant populations. The coming presidential elections in the US in 2020, is expected to see a strong clashes between white-supremacist right-wing nationalists, and the more liberal political forces there.
Political analysts are of the view that the New Zealand tragedy caused by right-wing terrorism, and the response there, would lead to a major re-assessment of political trends and realities in the world and that would give strength to the liberal politics that has been weakened in the recent decades.
In an important addition from the New Zealand situation is the growing international concerns about the role and power of social media, and the calls for better management and control of them, following the extensive showing the New Zealand terrorist attack on Facebook before being pulled down. This concern about the rising uncontrolled power of social media will also be one of major political and social reform interest in the coming years, to prevent emerging threats to Freedom of Information and Speech.
Brexit bedlam
The United Kingdom is in the whirl of a major political crisis with Prime Minister Theresa May having to seek an extension from the European Union for the UK departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May’s stay in the office is at stake as well as the possibility of a clear and quick exit from the EU.
The crisis over Theresa May’s failure to reach understandings with the other political parties in the House of Commons was made worse by the Speaker of the House John Bercow, ruling the motion on the Agreement with EU over Brexit could not be brought again to the Commons again in the same or substantially the same content. This motion was recently defeated in the Commons twice, with very large majorities. The Speaker quoted a 1604 ruling that no defeated motion could be tabled for voting again in the same session of the House. Theresa May has been pushing this motion – her draft Agreement with the EU, kicking the can down as time for the exit from the EU is due on March 29 – just a few days more. She has been hoping to get more votes as the time for exit draws near and no other option is found.
She is now in a situation where a request has been made to the EU to get an extension till June 30 this year for the UK to leave the EU. The Head of the EU Council has agreed to an extension, but with the UK Parliament showing what exactly it needs. This is the trap Theresa May is now caught it. She is at talks with the EU this week, and will have to return to the Commons early next week, with whatever new or amended proposal she could present.
Her failure to get a favourable vote in the Commons could well lead to her being compelled to resign from the office of Prime Minister. It would also lead to a much longer extension being sought from the EU for the UK Exit, leading to considerable political differences in the UK, and leading to a general election.
Recent debates on Brexit in the Commons have seen Theresa May come in for strong criticism from both the government and opposition benches, and increasing concerns by political analyst about the trend of democracy and the parliamentary process in the UK. Breaking away from the EU, with which the UK has been a member for over 40 years, is certainly causing much turmoil in UK politics, hardly expected when the referendum to leave the EU was held nearly three years ago. Theresa May seems to be dragging the Conservative Party, the UK and herself into a political bedlam.
Indian Polls – Opposition and Social Media
With the Indian Polls due to begin on April 11 the opposition parties, especially the Congress led alliances remain in disarray. At midweek the Congress had not finalized its arrangements in the crucial states of West Bengal, Bihar and in Delhi. There is opposition to the Congress tying up with the Aam Aadmi Party that currently holds Delhi; there are disagreements on the number of seats to be given to Congress in West Bengal, and disagreements with leaders of the Rashtriya Janatha Dal on seat alignments in Bihar.
These unsettled divisions in the Opposition give strength to the Narendra Modi led Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) and its strong Hindu allies. The recent weeks have also seen key Congress and pro-Congress political leaders in states joining the BJP, raising new problems to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
These shifting of old political links and alliances are much to do with the older voters. However, there is increased interest in how the current political trends will affect the new voters in India, who could play a crucial role in deciding on the future politics in the country.
The uncertainty of the young electorate, the 18-19-year-olds with little political baggage are seen as possible key players in the coming polls, with many parties trying to grab the leaders of these youth, who could be very strong supporters and bring in many young followers. The coming election would have about 100 million first time voters, which is a draw to all political parties.
These new voters are better informed, more educated and good organisers too. They key players in the election – the BJP and Congress – are giving importance to attracting more of the young voters, who could be a powerful extra drive to their traditional voter base.
There is no indication yet as to which major political party or alliance could effectively draw these young voters in substantial numbers to make a major positive change in their electoral campaigns. These youth also add the advantage of digital connectivity which is also playing a major role in the campaigning for the coming general election, with the spread of smartphones in the country. One commentator has said: “With the spread of 4G connectivity to rural India and cheaper smartphones, the 2019 battle is likely to be fought as much on phones as in the streets. Maybe, the younger lot will find phones more handy”.
The BJP will continue its strategy of presenting Narendra Modi as the leader image for youth, which was seen in the 2014 polls that saw the BJP win with a big majority in the Lok Sabha. However, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, remains a good attraction to youth voters, but he will have to show more leadership on issues that affect the youth most today. This will also have to do with the effective manner in which the Congress Party carries out its propaganda in the social media, where the BJP and Narendra Modi have already established a strong base of support.
Coming to the role of social media in the polls, India’s Election Commission has formulated a voluntary code of ethics that social media platforms have agreed to follow during the next two months.
In a meeting this week, representatives from Facebook, Google, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms agreed to take expedited action on any reported violations on their platforms. The Election Commission has ruled that all paid advertising on social media must be pre-certified.
India has been grappling with fake news on Facebook and WhatsApp for months – on matters that have led to considerable violence and issues of caste and religion, becoming an issue of major priority in this election.
