There’s a current perception among political analysts in the United States and elsewhere that Democracy or left-wing politics is failing, with a definite shift towards the political right or conservatism.
The results of recent elections in Europe, including France, Germany, and Spain, where conservative parties have gained significant victories have fueled this perception. In the U.S., recurring political polls are showing a stubborn shift to the right.
Conservatism emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional institutions, customs, and moral values. Conservatives generally advocate for less involvement of government in people’s lives, favoring individual responsibility and free market principles; they often emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, self-reliance, and hard work, and tend to be wary of social programs to help the marginalized in the society; they believe economic prosperity is best achieved through minimal government intervention in the economy. They usually advocate for fiscal responsibility, including balanced budgets and limited government spending
Conservatives also tend to be cautious about rapid or radical societal change, preferring gradual, incremental change that preserves stability. And, while not universal, many conservatives value religion’s role in society and its influence on personal morality.
With democracy, citizens exercise power by voting; power resides with the people, who elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, and all citizens have similar political rights and opportunities. Citizens also have the freedom to express their opinions, form political parties, and participate in the political process.
In democracies, everyone, including the government, must follow the law, and while decisions are made by the majority, the rights of minorities are protected. Democrats usually tend to provide a social net to assist the poor and marginalized to find food, healthcare, and shelter and also provide for the welfare of seniors, and retired citizens.
Within Democracies elected officials are accountable to the people, and government should be transparent. Elections are free, fair, and competitive, allowing for a peaceful transfer of power. Democracy respects and protects the fundamental rights of individuals including the freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to vote.
Frankly, in today’s world, there’s a blurring of the tenets of democracy and conservatism, as the people, voters, look towards both conservatives and democrats whenever either are in government to meet their hopes.
For the population of most countries, the core of politics is hope. People hope for a better life or standard of living and look to political leaders to fulfill this hope. It’s the hope that people harbor that influences politicians to emerge with promises, based on either democratic or conservative values, to turn these hopes into reality. But invariably what has been happening is that the promises of politicians usually turn out to be hollow, and they fail the people.
American politician and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson once rallied on the theme “keep hope alive,” but people don’t want to keep living in hope. They want hope to be realized. In 2007 Barack Obama succeeded in his presidential bid, promising a change to fulfill the hopes of most Americans. But, although he certainly tried during his eight years as president, these hopes were not all fulfilled, leaving some voters to turn to conservative promises.
Democracy offers people an option to vote for leaders they believe are most likely to turn their hopes into reality. Most people globally hope for jobs, higher wages, better education, good, affordable healthcare, safe communities, affordable housing, and the support of a benevolent government when their backs are against the financial wall. But when democratic leaders and parties fail to meet these hopes, the people, as they now seem to be doing, flee from democracy to opposing conservative leaders and parties who, ironically, basically are making similar promises as the democrats.
Looking at democracy in America and other countries, reasons for the perceived failure of democracy and the rise of conservatism seem complex, but there are several similarities, including:
Economic Anxiety: Many people feel left behind by the economic policies of democrats, leading them to turn to more conservative economic policies that prioritize job security and protectionism.
Identity Politics: There’s a resurgence of identity politics, with some groups and communities feeling marginalized and turning to conservative ideologies that emphasize traditional values and cultural identity.
Disillusionment with Establishment Politics: Some people are disillusioned with mainstream politicians, political parties, and institutions, leading them to seek alternatives, including more conservative or populist, cult-like leaders and movements.
Media Influence: Conservative media have grown in influence, increasingly shaping public opinion and promoting conservative ideologies.
International Trends: There’s a rise in conservative and populist movements, which is influencing the political landscape in other countries.
The world seems locked in a powerful conundrum. Neither democracy nor conservatism are fulfilling the hopes of most people. Voters shift from one ideology to another, only to be disappointed. Perhaps, as some have suggested, there’s an urgent need for a hybrid ideology embracing tenets of both democracy and conservatism, because while conservatism and democracy fail people, autocracy hovers.
