"...in the post-truth politics that is rocking Western democracies, illusions are more alluring than authority." (The Economist)
Britain votes on Brexit this week, and if Leave wins, it will unfortunately be for the wrong reasons. It seems that the fear mongering of immigration has captured voters intentions, far better than the serious fact based analytical arguments needed to actually make an intelligent decision on a compicated subject.
As the Guardian wrote, there are some interesting parallels with the rise of Trump in the US, and indeed other movements outside the perceived mainstream. (Trump, Brexit and demand for change: the year of the political outsider | US news | The Guardian)
Glass half full however, "As the US prepares for turbulent party conventions and Britain’s EU referendum approaches, experts question whether backlash against globalisation will last...“Trump is quite an extreme manifestation, but we’ve been here before,” says Wright, of the Brookings Institute. “Several studies have shown that there tends to be an upsurge in this sort of political response for the first 10 years after an economic shock. “We are coming up for 10 years since the financial crisis, and the six-million-dollar question now is whether this is outside the normal parameters or whether we are now reaching a high-water mark.”"
Let's hope that is the case, without the shock to the system of an actual Trump Presidency. Brexiters are perhaps a similar, but less toxic breed of this anti-establishment species. Unfortunately, that may mean that enough people feel that being outside the EU is worth the risk of economic slowdown or worse. Afterall, Norway and Iceland seem to do fine outside of the EU, but within their free trade zone.
But the Economist is rather more skeptical...."On contact with the reality of Brexit, their plans will fall apart. If Britain leaves the EU, it is likely to end up poorer, less open and less innovative. Far from reclaiming its global outlook, it will become less influential and more parochial. And without Britain, all of Europe would be worse off."
Is anyone yet planning for the worst? Back to the Guardian...."General Electric is already retooling its business based on the expectation that the current backlash against globalisation is not a passing moment, but rather a new reality to which business has no choice but to respond."
Our politicians must themselves reassert the importance of our governments and demonstrate their ability to govern. Our media must help educate us on the seriousness of issues that require much more than a tweetstorm to resolve.
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