The US election is far from the first right-wing win recently, but it's one we need to understand with brutal honesty.
Inflation has been hurting working people and scared many working-class and middle-class Americans. The situation is similar in Europe, where the left has lost election after election.
In the 80s socialism was a strong current in European politics. And in the USA, unions could look to the Democrats for protection.
The left used to be a voice for anti-capitalism, against neoliberalism, and a voice for protecting working-class jobs and social benefits.
As 'socialist' parties, the Labour party and Democrats have abandoned workers, and accepted liberal economics with minimum protection for workers. Where political parties were against NAFTA or trade liberalisation now these parties are the most enthusiastic neoliberals.
So is it surprising that workers across Europe and North America have abandoned parties that previously claimed to represent their views?
And is it surprising that the right has seen the opportunity and stolen the clothes of the left?
These right-wing parties have combined anti-neoliberal rhetoric with ethnonationalism and managed to attract sections of the working and middle classes that normally are concerned with economic justice.
People just don't trust the US Democrats, UK Labour or socialist parties on the European mainland any more because these parties do not address their concerns about rising prices and job insecurity.
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https://archive.ph/tVC69