hankyoreh

The cover of the Korean edition of “The Far Right Today,” by Cas Mudde

Donald Trump may have failed in his bid for reelection as US president, but the base that made him president in the first place hasn’t much changed. Far right administrations remain in place in Brazil and India. Together, those represent three of the five most populous countries in the world.

In the European Union (EU), far right majority parties exist in Poland and Hungary, and far right politicians have established firm footings in other countries as well.

Cas Mudde is a Dutch political scientist who has spent the past 25 years studying the far right. In his book “The Far Right Today,” recently published in Korean translation, he characterizes the recent phenomenon as a “fourth wave” of far-right politics.

“The third wave, roughly from 1980 till 2000, saw the rise of electorally successful populist radical right parties,” he writes. “In the fourth wave, which roughly started in the twenty-first century, radical right parties have become mainstreamed and increasingly normalized, not just in Europe, but across the world.”

“And even extreme right parties have emerged, as extreme right sentiments (like antisemitism, historical revisionism, and racism) are openly flirted with in the media and politics,” he adds.

South Korea may be no exception to the trend — consider the so-called “Taegukgi army,” “Anti-Japan Tribalism,” and acts of hatred and discrimination toward social minorities.

Mudde’s book is intended to provide a popular audience with an introduction to far-right political phenomena. It takes a look at the history of the far right in the 21st century and its ideology, organization, key figures and activities.

After a comprehensive examination of the background and factors behind the phenomenon’s emergence, he stresses how we should respond. He finishes by showing how powerful a force gender discrimination has been in the far right, before stating “twelve theses” on the fourth wave in closing.

The cover of “The Far Right Today,” by Cas Mudde

His analysis of the causes is of particular note. He examines the key issues surrounding far-right politics — questions like whether its emergence signifies protest against the political establishment or originates in actual support for far right forces, whether economic insecurity is a cause of far right support or represents a form of cultural backlash, whether the phenomenon is global or regional in nature, and whether it is the result of outstanding leadership or strong organization.

He also explores how much the media, in particular, have contributed to the rampant far right trend.

What is the proper response to the far right? Mudde emphasizes strengthening liberal democracy as the ultimate goal in responding to the far right. He stresses the importance of not losing sight of a key paradox: if we restrict the far right’s freedom as a way of combating it, we are ultimately just taking one step closer to the far right’s aim of destroying the liberal democratic system.

By Kim Jin-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]