From Disorder to Democracy: The Power of Resistance against the Autocratic Rise

In recent years there has been a notable trend on the world stage: more autocratic leaders, stronger right-wing parties and more polarised societies. This is not limited to developing countries; even in Western countries with democratic values, the rise of right-wing populism has become a trend. So why is the world drifting towards disorder, and why are autocratic leaders so successful?

Chaos, Insecurity and the Search for a “Strong Leader”

Democratic systems have become deeply insecure because of the uncertainties and crises created by the pandemic, wars and climate change. People are trying to cope with economic instability, rising inflation and job insecurity. At this point societies tend to turn to people with the image of a “strong leader”. Because in moments of crisis people look for simple solutions and clear guidance rather than complexity.

Autocratic leaders are able to turn uncertainty to their advantage and mobilise the masses with arguments of “creating enemies” and “us and them”. Focusing on society’s instinctive fears and sending the message “I am in control”, these leaders are highly skilled at offering a roadmap that lets people turn away from complex problems and believe easily.

The Rise of Right-Wing Parties: The Political Power of Fear

The rise of right-wing parties is also one of the basic building blocks of this disorder. The core policy of right-wing parties is built on triggering society’s current fears, such as economic hardship, rising migration, local people’s loss of identity and economic competition. With rhetoric of anti-immigration, nationalism and a return to traditional values, right-wing populist parties underpin the rise of right-wing political discourse in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Hungary.

The politics of fear has become more than a simple reaction; it has been turned into a strategy. Right-wing parties try to win voters over with simple but effective rhetoric and promises to “protect the nation against external threats”. In the modern world, while solutions to complex social and economic problems usually require time and expertise, the instant solutions offered by right-wing leaders are more attractive to society.

A World Caught Between Democracy and Populism

Another important point is democracy’s inability to protect itself. One of the basic features of liberal democracies is that they defend individual rights and pluralism.

But autocratic leaders gain power rapidly by manipulating the openness and slowness of this system.

Once in office, these leaders who came to power through elections can easily take control of the media, interfere with judicial independence and transform democratic systems into authoritarian regimes through repressive laws.

Through control of the media and the manipulation of information, they restrict people’s access to accurate information. With “stories” constructed to take the place of facts, they can easily influence the masses.

Conclusion: Access to Information and the Protection of Democracy

With these rapid developments in the world order, the rise of strong autocratic leaders, combined with the influence of right-wing populism, clearly reveals the critical role of access to information for democracies. Free and accurate access to information is fundamental for societies to protect themselves from manipulation and make informed decisions.

We now live in the information age, and recognising information as a right rather than using it as a weapon is the key to democracies getting through this difficult period and becoming even stronger. Because only societies with access to accurate and reliable information can build resilience against all kinds of manipulation and be ready to defend democratic values.