Right, Right or Left, Right?

From India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Turkey’s Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi there has been a recent surge in right wing ideologies. We are begin

ning to witness a worldwide trend. This, though not present within all the countries, leads to the question about why the right wing is increasing its grip at this time?

At the conclusion of World War II in 1945, there was a global shift from the right to the left. Indeed, some countries still followed right wing ideologies, such as Spain under General Franco. Nonetheless, the rise of Communism and Socialist policies within emerging states in Africa and South Asia meant progress was the key idea. Right wing parties were now losing their popularity, after the masses experienced the horrors committed during World War II. Nationalism, a key idea within right wing parties, was slowly ebbing away. A sign of progress and rebuilding matched with the left wing parties as the world was heading into a new age.

As left wing parties crystallized their positions, there was an increasing expectancy within the masses for progress. The right had promised glory and power through nationalism, which inevitably led to war. This, as seen, post-1945, decreased the people’s trust in the right wing parties. This was, in fact, the golden age of the left -- as is particularly seen in the United Kingdom. Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime hero, was the obvious choice for re-election. However, Churchill, who was leader of the Conservative Party, actually lost to his rival Labour Party rival, Clement Attlee.

Attlee's victory ushered in a new wave of expectation. It was a significant moment when the left had wrestled control from the right. Now, the people wanted results. It did happen with the implementation of the National Health Services (NHS) in the United Kingdom, which allowed people access to health care. In the Soviet Union, there was an obsession with modernization through heavy industries and reformation of educational systems. Whereas, newly formed states such as India and Pakistan tried to cement their position in global affairs.

Though the left offered plenty of new opportunities, such as the United Kingdom’s Labour Party, establishing the NHS, and similarly, the Soviets keenness for modernizing Russia, they too failed to hold their promises. People’s trust in the left started to ebb away. This was apparent in 1970 Britain when the opposing Conservatives returned to power. Likewise, in 1991, the Soviets, the champions of Marxist ideology, were ousted from power. While, in India, the present ruling party, the BJP was formed in 1981. Indeed, changed, once more, lingered in the air.

Although the dichotomy between the left and the right was not as conspicuous as I outline it to be -- once again, the left arose in several countries. But this time the disparity between the left and right seemed small when Labour Party’s British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, joined the coalition to bomb Iraq in 2003. Such a move was divisive amongst many, and it was clearly seen as less progressive -- a term that is often aligned with the left.

In the past few years, we can witness a surge in the right wing. Either generations are evolving or people are forgetting the radicalism associated with the right, but we are facing the brunt of the past. Poor decisions from the left, and opportunism from the right are leading us to a more intolerant world. The recent beef bans across India highlights how right wing ideology has permeated Indian society -- a place that has historically been tolerant to all religions is, tragically, becoming intolerant. Furthemore, the new craze in neo-Nazism around the world shows how we have forgotten the past atrocities. Even the migrant crisis in Europe proves how insensitive and xenophobic our societies have become. Unfortunately right wing ideologies, which promote such intolerance amongst societies, have hindered progress.

If the current regimes around the world are evidence for the global catastrophes, then we are facing an uphill battle for tolerance and progress among societies. It seems that people are tired of the failed promises from the left, but the right has not delivered either.

I understand it is impossible to generalize this idea of left versus the right. In fact, it would be naive to consider that there is a ‘worldwide rise of the right or the left.’ Nevertheless, in a world where globalization is on the lips of individuals, it is important to emphasize how there are certain trends. These have been apparent in the last century, when globalization truly started taking its course. Now, in the 21st century, we are witnessing the events of the past unfolding.

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