Why the (almost) World-wide shift to the right?

[MorkandMindy]

We have been told that when the Berlin Wall fell on November 9 1989 and then the Soviet Union began to dissolve in Dec 1991, it was the proof that Communism doesn't work and therefore that the right wing was right.

It could conversely be said that Yeltsin's adoption of the free market in Russia was a complete disaster and that showed in the case of Russia that the free market is worse than Communism and Russia being such a varied country that is probably applicable everywhere.

Well guess which story the media tells?

 

[381465]

If I had to guess, probably several factors.

If I had to guess #1 reason is response to terrorism. There is probably an impression that conservatism would be most in favor of border controls, immigrant vetting, law and order, strong defense, etc.

 

[Allandavid]

Just the inevitable swing of the pendulum...

 

[Albion]

We have been told that when the Berlin Wall fell on November 9 1989 and then the Soviet Union began to dissolve in Dec 1991, it was the proof that Communism doesn't work and therefore that the right wing was right.

It could conversely be said that Yeltsin's adoption of the free market in Russia was a complete disaster and that showed in the case of Russia that the free market is worse than Communism and Russia being such a varied country that is probably applicable everywhere.

Well guess which story the media tells?

But Yeltsin didn't actually bring in a free market system. There were high hopes, but his administration was marked by official corruption and all manner of instances of the market being manipulated or denied.

 

[archer75]

We have been told that when the Berlin Wall fell on November 9 1989 and then the Soviet Union began to dissolve in Dec 1991, it was the proof that Communism doesn't work and therefore that the right wing was right.

It could conversely be said that Yeltsin's adoption of the free market in Russia was a complete disaster and that showed in the case of Russia that the free market is worse than Communism and Russia being such a varied country that is probably applicable everywhere.

Well guess which story the media tells?

What @Albion said is accurate. Yeltsin did not "bring in" a free market system. Further, the previous regime was communist in name only. I know probably no one wants to hear this, but that's okay.

 

[bhsmte]

I think everything goes in cycles and really no matter what, you get shifts to the right and left. People tend to be fickle.

 

[Giovanna_]

Because...the liberal agenda is outrageous!

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The world wide "shift to the right"...if you can call it that...I don't know that's exactly accurate...

I think it can be attributed to the fact that certain members of "the left" have moved really far left on certain things.

I think it's a good thing that people are embracing science, I think it's a good thing that we're finally recognizing equality for marginalized groups...however, I think the "college know-it-all PC movement", for lack of a better term, is what is alienating some folks.

When political correctness gets to a point where you practically can't say or do anything without being called a bigot or accused of "privilege", you're going to alienate many people.

Essentially, when you have a big group of 19-25 year olds, who think they know more than everyone else (because they spent 2 semesters in entry level philosophy and gender studies classes), start talking down to everyone, that's going to rub some people the wrong way and they're going to start voting against them merely out of spite.

Just in my own personal experience, I've tried to have conversations with some of those folks, and just by the way they talk to people, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't almost have urge to want to take the opposing position from them simply out of anger and frustration.

If I may provide a personal narrative on this one involving one of my own family members (as cousin).

She posted a long facebook rant about an incident where someone spray painted a swastika at a public park, and blamed everyone who didn't vote for Hillary...here's the exact post (copied and pasted):
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This is the type of crap that is happening now that the candidate endorsed by the KKK won. Let it sink in. If you didn't vote for Hillary, you basically endorsed him. Think about what that means about yourself. If you voted 3rd party, you're just as responsible as the Trump voters, you couldn't put your own selfish reasons aside to do what was best for our country.

Disgusting.

No comments. I'm deleting any. If you feel like you need to defend yourself then you obviously have issues I can't help you with.
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Now, the reactionary side of me (as a 3rd party voter) was to think "good, if that's how you feel then I'm glad Trump won...just to put you in your place"...but then I think better of it and calm down lol.

Her attitude on the matter isn't unique among the 18-25 left...if someone voted for the person they don't like then "they're stupid", and if they're a 3rd party voter who didn't vote for their candidate, then "they're stupid by proxy".


People get fed up with that and begin to resent many on the left because of it... I, for one, think that the "rise of the right" has less to do with people actually embracing nationalism and conservative economics, and more to do with simply being fed up with smug people on the left.

 

[archer75]

Her attitude on the matter isn't unique among the 18-25 left...if someone voted for the person they don't like then "they're stupid", and if they're a 3rd party voter who didn't vote for their candidate, then "they're stupid by proxy".

Nope, that attitude is not unique to her at all. And there are people outside that age range who speak in a similar way. Their public performances are obnoxious and often ridiculous.

And to be perfectly fair, there are people on the right who behave in a pretty similar way.

Honestly, I'm not sure that people with no actual opinions, just a lot of "vocab" should be considered to be anywhere on the political spectrum.

 

[Albion]

I think everything goes in cycles and really no matter what, you get shifts to the right and left. People tend to be fickle.

I was just about to say the same thing.

Take Latin America, for example. For awhile, it seemed like everything was going towards Right-wing government, but more recently most countries swung Left, and now it may be that the pendulum is beginning to swing the other way again.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Where to begin...............

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

We are coming back from the left ward swing of Obama so almost anything is right of him.

 

[Nithavela]

I'd say its because people are too well off. Things are looking pretty good these days, but humans can't be contend with what they have, but only with raising their wealth, and they hope to achieve this through a swing to the right because the way of globalisation has reached a plateu.

 

[Rion]

Because the Left has lost touch with the common man and became increasingly authoritarian over the years.

 

[Albion]

Because the Left has lost touch with the common man and became increasingly authoritarian over the years.

That's certainly part of it.

 

[MoonlessNight]

The primary shift as of late has not been to "the right" so much as it has been to nationalism.

And when you consider that having nations as the primary social organization was the standard for almost all of human history, the real question is why things moved away from nationalism in the twentieth century.

 

[Albion]

The primary shift as of late has not been to "the right" so much as it has been to nationalism.

And when you consider that having nations as the primary social organization was the standard for almost all of human history, the real question is why things moved away from nationalism in the twentieth century.

A good argument can be made for the proposition that it hasn't diminished but only shifted from one ethnic or national group to others.

 

[LoAmmi]

The primary shift as of late has not been to "the right" so much as it has been to nationalism.

And when you consider that having nations as the primary social organization was the standard for almost all of human history, the real question is why things moved away from nationalism in the twentieth century.

WWII.

 

[Albion]

WWII only intensified the nationalist urge.

 

[Larniavc]

official corruption and all manner of instances of the market being manipulated or denied.

Um, sounds like the free market...