Screen politics

I call it TV democracy. People spend years watching superficial and foolish things on their TV screens – most of the channels are just light on substance and short on comprehensiveness – and then acquire a simple and biased view of public life. They are therefore ready to vote for people like Donald Trump or Jair Bolsonaro, meaning, for simple minds that speak to the most common stereotypes and views. Those elected have the legitimacy the polls give to the winners. But they do not possess the knowledge and the experience that are required to lead a country. They know that. They react to it through arrogance and a fighting stance. And they keep implementing demagogic and inflammatory policies, to hide their weaknesses and respond to the primary feelings of the TV watchers. Their leadership is based on showmanship, on theatrics, and on headlines.

This ends up by eroding the democratic institutions and creating deep fractures within the nation. These leaders are expert dividers, specialists on managing people’s passions and instincts.

TV democracy is a serious threat to national progress, social cohesion, and stability. Unfortunately, in many countries, we seem to be moving in such a direction.

The populism is attacking our democracies

Populist leaders will do anything to keep power. They get to power through lies, manipulation of facts, verbal violence, intrigue and appeals to the most primary instincts of people. They keep using the same tactics once at the top of political food chain. They are then particularly dangerous as they have control over the institutional levers of authority and manage to acquire the support of those in the media that love to be obsequious to dictators and are ready to embark on the same disastrous demagogic train. All of them, leaders and their media acolytes, create a special type of enemy, what they call the elites. Everyone that opposes them, or comes up with different ideas, or talks about the respect for rules, institutions and separation of power, is tagged as an elite. The members of the elite are then called enemies of the people. We hear that accusation being thrown at judges, democratic politicians, professional journalists, competent civil servants, and so on.

All this is not really new. What is new and extremely worrisome is to see this type of unacceptable political behaviour taking ground in our traditionally open and democratic societies. The worm is now in our democratic apple. That’s a major development that needs to be combated with clarity of purpose and extremely effective communications. We must not be perceived as hesitating in front of the populists that are in charge or try to get to power. We must show leadership and moral strength.

A type of leadership

He knows about theatrics and smoke screens. He is also an expert on mirrors and emotional words, grandiloquence. That works in politics. But does it last? Not really, unless you add to it a continuous use of verbal brutality against your opponents and a strong dose of high-flying nationalism. Then, you have a true leader for the dunces.

I would do the same, I think, if I had a chance. It seems to pay off, isn’t it?

Sometimes, it is necessary to say no

I fear a people that values blind obedience. And history has demonstrated how far blind obedience can take us on the road to tragedy.

Undemocratic leadership

It’s a grave mistake to refer to autocrats as “illiberal leaders”. They are undemocratic political monsters that managed to get to positions of power because they manipulated their country’s public opinion and were able to ride on the most primary sentiments one can find in some nations that are experiencing deep crisis. The media and the academic circles must call those leaders what they are: demagogues, totalitarian, despot, or just dangerous populists.

Populists are the enemy

As we move into this new year, a very challenging one in many fronts, let's not forget that fear is the currency of the populist leaders. To be successful and mobilise support, they create frightening news, exaggerate the problems, scare people out, and then, they present themselves as the only guarantors of a safer world, and the saviours that will take us there.

They create a fantasy and false narrative.

To fight such extremists, one must be able to demonstrate that the fears they have identified are not real or, if indeed there is a big issue, there is also a set of solutions that can be implemented to deal with it, without disturbing the established institutions and within a democratic and participatory set-up.

The challenge is therefore to address people's fears. And to win the narrative. That means a pragmatic approach must be followed, words should be clear and frank, and the combat against populists must be explained to everyone. We should talk about it all the time.

Populist leaders are manipulators and delusional. We should be able to show that to everyone.  

On fighting demagoguery

When the demagogues are at the gate, we should not hesitate. It´s time to be clear about their intent, their lies, and their attempts to take control of our lives, to usurp political power. We have to fight back.

To remain silent, when confronted with political monsters, leads to tyranny and disaster. And we should not see them just as laughing matter. There is nothing fun about firebrands and manipulators.

The best way to combat them is to make use of their own arguments and turn them upside down. To show their dangerous, ridiculous, and false facets.

It is also important to address the concerns of those who give space and credibility to the demagogues. They cannot be ignored. They should not be demeaned. They have to be won to the side of reason and moderation. We must walk to them.