The conservative right-wing onslaught continues unabated. Neo-fascism is installed in many places. It talks of human rights, freedoms and democracies, but deepens social injustice. Many nations are governed by openly Nazi-like administrations, with xenophobic and white supremacist positions.
Marcelo Colussi
The last revolution with a socialist air, with the masses taking to the streets and ousting the ruling class (what is called a revolutionary seizure of power), was in Nicaragua in 1979, when the Sandinistas ousted the Somoza dictatorship.
Since then, the global system, always led by the United States, has been able to rearrange itself very well.
Through all kinds of mechanisms – systematic ideological-cultural bombardment, bloody military dictatorships, disarticulation of popular organisation, neo-liberal plans that made working and living conditions brutally precarious – the idea of socialist revolution was leaving the scene.
The ideological advance of the right wing was terrible, and it wanted us to believe that the class struggle – a concept fundamental to Marxist thought – had disappeared.
The truth is that the capitalist system in no country in the world can solve the historical problems of any unjust class society, even if it shows the opulence of some cities as a symbol of triumph.
The reality is still malnutrition, ignorance, marginalisation, housing shortages and consequent overcrowding, disabling prejudices, repression of the oppressed, environmental disaster, racism and patriarchy (poorly disguised with “politically correct” discourse), crowds of irregular migrants fleeing in desperation, wars everywhere.
The sense of right-wing triumph was so great after the fall of the Berlin Wall that the popular movements and the left were left reeling.
Although there is endless talk of human rights, freedoms and democracies, the real situation is one of deepening subjugation, exploitation, injustice and social regression.
To this must be added an ethically conservative discourse, with the presence of religious elements, which, in contrast to the achievements already made by the progress of the peoples, show that retrograde thinking is still very much in force.
The right is growing. Contrary to past decades, during the 60s and 70s of the last century, for example, when there was an almost rebellious attitude with rebellious elements that crossed global society in various fields, today we are witnessing a nihilistic, conservative, hopeless thinking. We see it in different countries with increasingly recalcitrant and ultra-conservative positions on the part of the dominant classes, expressed through their political parties of the day.
It is a trend that can be seen around the world. Many European nations are governed by openly Nazi-prone administrations, with disgustingly xenophobic and white supremacist positions.
In Italy, a fascist party has just won the elections, with positions similar to those of Benito Mussolini decades ago. In Russia, now embroiled in a terrible war, a trend has taken hold that undoes everything that was built during the Soviet Union, rewarding personal wealth, a return to clerical positions and the promotion of homophobia.
In the United States, all indications are that a neo-fascist like Donald Trump, who has allowed himself to speak of “shithole countries” in reference to the territories of the South, may very well return to the presidency. Although in several Latin American countries in recent times presidential elections have been won by centre-left, moderate left-wing candidates (López Obrador in Mexico, Luis Arce in Bolivia, Gustavo Petro in Colombia, Pedro Castillo in Peru, Xiomara Castro in Honduras, Alberto Fernández in Argentina, Gabriel Boric in Chile), in all these contexts the right wing does not allow much room for manoeuvre.
Radical, racist, conservative right-wingers, in many cases close to the religious postulates of “god, country, family” and attacking sexual diversity, take the floor. Or rather: they are overwhelming.
But what can we expect from the right? While at times they may allow themselves certain freedoms and the odd concession (“capitalism with a human face”, for example), conservative thinking is just that: a terror of change.
Worryingly, this conservatism is now becoming more radicalised and attacking than before.
If people vote for ultra-right candidates -Bolsonaro in Brazil or Macri in Argentina, for example, or Vox in Spain, or vote NO to constitutional change in Chile- it is because the media bombardment with visceral anti-communism is still present.
The traditionalist values of a false nationalism, homophobic, clerical, hyper-conservative in economic matters, xenophobic, are increasingly imposing themselves. The only possible solution is not “less right-wing” governments: the only solution in sight is to change direction.
(Translated by Cristina Popa – Email: gcpopa83@gmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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