The West could curb the rise of right-wing extremism by addressing the plight of the less advantaged people in society. In the political context, a right-wing faction identifies with its support for specific hierarchies and social order. People who support this ideology oppose social democracy and socialism in entirety. Such groups hold extreme values of nationalism, and they include conservatives and religious adherents. Recently, western countries have witnessed the rise of this group, particularly in Europe. For example, individuals who hold such ideologies have won elections in Italy, Germany, and Slovakia. Their popularity threatens the tenets of democracy and equality, and as such, the western states ought to respond accordingly to prevent such a possibility. Specifically, the West should curb the rise of right-wing extremism by solving economic inequalities and fostering justice for all.

The western countries have to solve the economic inequalities contributing to the popularity of right-wing extremists. Before the recent rise of the right-wing, the leftist’s dominance was attributable to the belief that anyone could achieve economic empowerment. People believed that the structure would not work to the disadvantage of others in society. However, most citizens were frustrated, and they responded by contemplating their support for the right-wing group. Han (2016) provides evidence showing that “income inequality encourages the poor to vote for radical right-wing parties” (p.54). In other words, the rise of the right-wing is attributable to the frustration that came as a result of the left-wing’s reluctance to address income disparity.

The left-wing group ought to ensure that all people are accorded fair and equal opportunities to participate in the improvement of their economic lives. For a long time, the left-wing remained popular because it was founded on the principle of fairness. Many were convinced that no one would get an unfair advantage over others. However, the reliance on capitalism as the driver of the economy resulted in unfairness since only the people with financial might could participate in economic activities. Corruption and unfair income control practices have been reported within this group, thus affecting its credibility (Smyth & Qian, 2009). The western world ought to analyze its practices to ascertain its fairness.

Additionally, the left-wing needs to respond by fostering justice for all people regardless of their racial background or national status. Besides economic inequality, the leftist’s popularity is declining because of neglecting the plight of other racial groups, who then withdraw their support. Due to its perceived democratic values, the left-wing faction attracts people from diverse backgrounds. In contrast, people resent the right-wing because of its anti-feministic and nationalistic narrative that discourages multiculturalism. However, the failure of the western world to ensure that justice extends to all has inadvertently popularized the right-wing. For example, Erel (2018) posits that the UK allows laws that are hostile to immigrants and other races. The trend replicates in other parts of the western world, leading to the suppression of minorities and the popularity of right-wing supporters.

In conclusion, the western world can quickly stop the advancement of the right-wing by focusing on the issues affecting society. Most citizens are choosing the right-wing because of the failures of the left-leaning group, especially in the areas of justice and economic equality. The left-wing neglects the tenets of fairness and justice. As a result, people are responding by supporting right-wing extremists. Without addressing the predicament of their citizens, western states may continue witnessing a higher rise of the right-wing group.

References

Erel, U. (2018). Saving and reproducing the nation: Struggles around right-wing politics of social reproduction, gender and race in austerity Europe. Women’s Studies International Forum, 68, 173–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2017.11.003

Han, K. J. (2016). Income inequality and voting for radical right-wing parties. Electoral Studies, 42, 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2016.02.001

Smyth, R., & Qian, J. X. (2009). Corruption and left-wing beliefs in a post-socialist transition economy: Evidence from China’s ‘harmonious society.’ Economics Letters, 102(1), 42–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2008.11.006