In a more and more fragmented Europe and world, where people feel isolated, vulnerable, and overwhelmed by economic, social, and geopolitical challenges, the right in power has understood a deep need for security and protection. Their response mixes the promise of stability with determined political solutions, often towards privatization and a stronger, more centralized government. In an era of global doubts, the message is clear: authority and the market are the tools to guarantee order and prosperity.
Privatization as a cure for the economic crisis
The European right has realized that privatization is not only a response to economic difficulties but also a way to signal efficiency and modernity. In Italy, the government led by Giorgia Meloni is pushing forward, with the porpoise to involve the private sector in managing infrastructure and transportation. The goal is to attract investments, modernize the country, and boost the economy by offering solutions that, according to the government, adapt quickly to the competitive global market.
This is not just an Italian story. In Sweden, the center right government has adopted the same logic, searching private market solutions to improve the healthcare system and reduce waiting times, through a public private partnership model that seems inevitable. The belief that the private sector is faster and more efficient than state management is becoming a growing mantra, even in socially advanced countries.
During the Trump administration, the U.S. pushed for more private sector involvement in infrastructure and innovation, promoting a freer market with less government intervention, a trend that spread worldwide. This trend is also taking place in developing countries like Brazil under the ex president Bolsonaro.
A strong government to reassure society
But privatization is not the only card the right is playing. At the same time, the central power of the state is being reinforced as an antidote to the fears that run through modern societies. In Poland, for example, under the PiS (Law and Justice Party), centralization of power has become a key strategy. A strong approach to immigration, border protection, and the defense of “identity purity” have been responses to reassure part of the electorate, who are concerned about foreign cultures and rising instability.
Similarly, Viktor Orbán has turned his leadership into a point of reference for those hoping for a strong government that can defend traditional values and order. Orbán’s authoritarian policies are combined with economic measures for families, support programs, and incentives with the goal to reduce citizens’ concerns.
The promise of security and order: the core of global Right Wing politics
But it’s not just in Europe where the right has understood this demand for reassurance. In Brazil, the ex president Bolsonaro made security his main focus, promising order in a country devastated by crime. While embracing liberal economic policies, he prioritized social stability, emphasizing strict control and policies that met the population’s need for protection.
In this context, the right appears more and more as the voice of a disoriented society, looking for concrete and immediate answers to its anxieties. Security, identity, and order become key values, and those who can defend them gain support, regardless of controversial political choices. In a world where chaos seems just around the corner, the right offers an escape route: a return to strong authority and a more dynamic market.
The politics of the future: simple answers to complex challenges
In summary, the right has addressed society’s fears with a tough but practical solution for the current moment. A policy that, despite raising many doubts, succeeds in generating support, offering a concrete alternative to those who feel lost and insecure in a constantly changing world. Order and security, promised and guaranteed by a strong government, seem like the simplest solutions to complex problems. In an uncertain world, this seems to be the new social contract the right is offering with the belief that strong, decisive solutions are needed to overcome today’s challenges.
Inside the topic
We have interviewed Max Gorter, a student of International Relations and Journalism from the Netherlands, to hear his thoughts on the country’s traditionally progressive identity shifting towards supporting far-right politics
“The PVV strategically jumped on this by modifying their rhetoric. Historically, the party was notoriously anti-Islam and anti-immigration. But in recent elections, they’ve somewhat softened these views and become more moderate. This has given them significant support because many voters were unsure about traditional governing parties. The party that was once seen as very extreme has become less extreme, which has attracted more votes. So yes, there is a subtle shift to the right, but the PVV has become more powerful primarily by making themselves less extreme”.
Podcast della puntata https://audio.com/kolysetten/audio/the-right-in-power