While waiting for the other shoe to drop in Donald Trump’s second term, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan is already sounding a chilling warning that fascist influence in the West’s democracies is increasingly and potentially fatally encroaching. Progressives, said Khan, who writes for The Observer, “face a challenge of the century,” and, arguably, never greater stakes have there been for liberal democracy.
The Resurgent Threat of the Far Right
This warning by Khan comes at a time when far-right movements are on the rise in different parts of the world. In the United States, Trump’s re-election is considered a turning point, and similar trends are unfolding in Europe. From the Reform Party in the UK to National Rally in France and AfD in Germany, the rise of these movements reflects a broader shift towards reactionary politics.
Khan draws a clear parallel between today’s political climate and the rise of fascism in the 1920s and 1930s. He cautions that the global political landscape is, in fact, mirroring the ominous signs that preceded the rise of Mussolini’s fascist regime in Italy and Hitler’s Nazis in Germany. As a result, he warns that we cannot afford to throw in the towel. Instead, Khan urges political leaders to recognize the urgency of the moment and, consequently, fight back against these growing threats.
Role of Social Media and Political Failure
According to Khan, one of the major drivers of the rise of the far-right is the dominance of social media by reactionary forces. X, formerly known as Twitter, has become a breeding ground for extremist ideologies. It has given far-right voices an opportunity to amplify their message and recruit new followers.
While conceding the role of social media, Khan also identifies a deeper issue: the failure of the political left. “We must take a hard look at our own political shortcomings,” Khan insists, urging progressives to reconnect with the working class. He argues that economic dissatisfaction and growing distrust in political and media institutions are fueling the appeal of far-right populists, who exploit these sentiments for their own gain.
Khan argues that the left cannot just point fingers at social media. The left needs to prove that democratic governments can actually deliver on their promises to the working class. Only by dealing with economic and social issues can progressives hope to regain the narrative from far-right populists.
Elon Musk and the Far-Right Movement
Khan targets Elon Musk, Trump’s ally, and owner of X, through his role in the rise of the far right. Musk’s social media “has been employed as a tool of propaganda” where he has transmitted false information while amplifying “extremist voices.” Through his weaponizing of his own platform to achieve the far right agenda, such unchecked power indeed poses a critical threat to democracy, Khan maintains.
“The billionaire bully shouldn’t be able to use his social media platform to amplify lies and hate,” Khan writes. He says the social media companies should be held responsible for the algorithms that privilege content intended to foment division and feed hate.
Call for Progressive Politics
In his article, Khan advocates a united front against the far right. He encourages progressive parties and leaders to fight against fascism. In the end, political self-awareness and responsibility become important to deal with this growing trend. It is time for no more complacency. Now that fascism has resurfaced in the West, Khan is making an obvious call: forces of democracy should respond to the challenge at its core.
