The problem with popular authoritarianism

Submitted by G. Lobe (Canada), Apr 15, 2018 at 15:43

While the civilizationst stance of populist parties in Poland, Hungary and Austria is promising and benefits the western civilization, however, certain authoritarian policies within those parties are concerning. Examples include: The crackdown on "anti-polish" speech with regard to Holocaust, and restrictive measures by the Hungarian government on NGOs and the opposition.

It is fine to use popular sentiments to increase support for the defence of the western civilization, but at the same time one has to be careful not to let these sentiments empower authoritarians who will wreck the democracy from inside. If the western civilization is to be saved, it will be done through measures that would protect the best features of the western civilization: Liberty, Freedom of speech and association, democracy and enlightenment.

The fact that the current leaders of the civilizationist movement in Eastern Europe seem to use Vladimir Putin as their role model should be concerning to everybody.

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