Society: Walled Democracies And The Rise Of Populism

In the 21st century democracy plays a key role in societies, however, there are still societies where democracy is not present. However, according to Larry Diamond, there are societies where democracy do not play a role, in countries such as China and Russia( Larry Diamond, as cited in Fukayama, 2019, p.5). Moreover, countries where democracy is not established, are the countries where society lives between fences and walls.

Walled democracies

Countries such as China and Russia are perfect examples of societies that live in walled democracies. According to Larry Diamond, over the years after there has been a “democratic recession,” in which the cumulative number of democratic countries has decreased in different regions of the world. Therefore, the quantity of authoritarian countries has increased, countries such as China and Russia, rely more on themselves they have become more self-efficient. Also, China has created a way to upsurge the wealth of China by executing it in a noticeably undemocratic manner, while Russia has criticized the liberal debauchery of the European Union and the United States (Larry Diamond as cited in Fukayama, 2019, p.5).

Moreover, over the years democratic countries have experienced the rise of nationalism, which is present in this political era. As a result, of the rise of nationalism in democratic countries has led to dictators coming to power, as consequence, shifting from a democratic country to a country where authoritarianism takes over the society. Also, according to Fukayama democratic countries that have shifted as authoritarian countries are Hungary, Turkey, Thailand, and Poland ( Fukayama, 2019, p.5). Additionally, during The Arab Spring of 2011 interposed dictatorships in the Middle East, the consequence was that these countries could not develop into becoming democratic countries, this took place in the regions of Libya, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria descended into civil war(Fukayama, 2019, p.5).

Furthermore, as stated by Krastev, Europe represents the ideology of freedom, that comes from after the second world war, Europe introduced liberalism in most European countries. Also, by establishing social democracy in European countries has created secureness and wealth. Additionally, the wealth of the world increases daily, and by doing so the European way of living becomes desirable. Further, countries such as China, India and Russia and certain Muslim regions, verifies that ethnic nationalism and religion are the main forces in global politics ( Krastev, 2019,p.8).

Hence, countries such as China and Russia are countries that live in walled democracies, seeing as how these countries want to portray to the world that there are fair elections and that they represent their people in a democratic way. In contrast, in Russia and China fair elections do not occur, these countries are corrupted and citizens get murdered or sentenced to jail if they speak negatively about the government. Moreover, due to the rise of nationalism in democratic countries has led for Dictators to come to power according to Fukayama this is present in countries such as Hungary, Turkey, Thailand and Poland ( Fukayama, 2019, p.5). Thus, because of the rise of nationalism democratic countries become authoritarian countries, which means that these countries are also living in walled democracies. Lastly, according to Krastev ethnic nationalism and religion are the main sources of global politics (Krastev, 2019,p.8). Therefore, if these sources keep increasing in other countries it may effect the democracy of these countries.

Fences and Walls

In society, walls are seen as to protect society from danger, diseases or other countries. However, there are different walls build around the world, according to Brown these are for example seen in, Thailand and Malaysia has conjoined to build a concrete and steel border wall to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling between these countries. Also, another example is the wall between Egypt and Gaza, Iran also has build a wall between Iran and Pakistan. Lastly, the walls around Israeli settlements in the West Bank has caused tension between Israelis and Palestinians because, the Israelis has taken homes from the Palestinians(Brown, 2015, p.19). As a consequence, having walls can either have a positive effect for the country but also a negative effect. Furthermore, Brown states that a country having borders comes in three forms of paradoxes which are:

“ First, even as those across wide political spectrum neoliberals, cosmopolitans, humanitarians, and left activists fantasize a world without borders (whether consequent to global entrepreneurship, global markets, global citizenship, or global governance), nation-states, rich and poor, exhibit a passion for wall building. Second, within the ostensibly triumphant universal political form, democracy (heralded by European post-Marxists, Islamic secularists, or American neoconservatives, even if each inflects democracy differently), we confront not only barricades, but passageways through them segregating high-end business traffic, ordinary travelers, and aspiring entrants deemed suspect by virtue of origin or appearance. Third, in a time featuring capacities for destruction historically unparalleled in their combined potency, miniaturization, and mobility, from bodies wired for explosion to nearly invisible biochemical toxins, these deadly but incorporeal powers are perversely answered by the stark physicalism of walls. So, three paradoxes: one featuring simultaneous opening and blocking, one featuring simultaneous opening and blocking, one featuring universalization combined with exclusion and stratification, and one featuring networked and virtual power by physical barricades” (Brown, 2015, p.20).

Hence, walls and fences benefits different countries in different ways for political gain or for increasing their country wealth, while other countries use walls to display power among other countries. Furthermore, having open boarders but only allowing certain people in, that will provide economical gain for the country, while other countries decide to ban certain ethnicity from entering the country which happened in the United States with the Muslim ban. Also, according to Reinchlin-Melnick President Trump imposed a travel ban on seven Muslim countries( Reinchlin-Melnick, 2018, para.1). Thus, societies are living within walls and fences that can protect society, as long that the government gets to choose which people can cross the border and which not.

The rise of Populism

The rise of populism has increased over the years, this is visible in the US election by having Donald Trump as the president of United States, populism is also present in Europe which is visible in the United Kingdom with Brexit. Moreover, Galston states that populism “accepts the principles of popular sovereignty and democracy, understood in straightforward fashion as the exercise of majoritarian power. It is skeptical, however, about constitutionalism, insofar as formal, bounded institutions and procedures impede majorities from working their will. It takes an even dimmer view of liberal protections for individuals and minority groups”( Galston, 2019, p.11). Furthermore, populism disturbs the moral of democracy by neglecting minority groups and prioritizing their own ethnicity to be superior. Hence, societies that choose to follow populist political parties, live in a walled society by only seeing and hearing what society thinks is best to be able to advance. Also, by allowing these political parties to use their power to neglect minorities, which also affects the democracy of the society.

Conclusion

To conclude, countries such as China and Russia are perfect examples of societies that live in walled democracies. According, to Larry Diamond over the years after there has been a “democratic recession,” in which the cumulative number of democratic countries has decreased in different regions of the world. Therefore, the quantity of authoritarian countries has increased, countries such as China and Russia, rely more on themselves they have become more self-efficient(Larry Diamond as cited in Fukayama, 2019, p.5). Also, over the years democratic countries have experienced the rise of nationalism, which is present in this political era. As a result, of the rise of nationalism in democratic countries has led to dictators coming to power, as consequence, shifting from a democratic country to a country where authoritarianism takes over the society. Furthermore, walls and fences benefit different countries in different ways for political gain or for increasing their country wealth, while other countries use walls to display power among other countries. Hence, societies are living within walls and fences that can protect society, as long that the government gets to choose which people can cross the border and which not. Moreover, societies that choose to follow populist political parties, live in a walled society by only seeing and hearing what society thinks is best to be able to advance. Also, by allowing these political parties to use their power to neglect minorities, which also affects the democracy of the society.