Checkpoint: Far-Right Populism And Social Democracy Are Unlikely Allies
The Atlantic
Background
Conversations about far-right populism and social democracy are rarely heard within the same political circles, at least not with positive connotations for both, but the two are more interconnected than one might think. The rise of the populist far-right in the United States has been a prominent and transformative political phenomenon in recent years, fueled by former president Donald Trump's authoritative yet fiery approach to the ideology. The conglomeration of economic anxieties, cultural shifts, and growing fear of government control and elitism formed a seductive, momentous movement for vulnerable, disenchanted conservative voters. As a result, far-right leaders are reshaping the country's political landscape, promoting their nationalist, polarizing, and anti-establishment agendas. This surge in populism has had profound consequences for the tone of American political discourse, affecting political polarization, policy debates, elections, and even attempted coup de'états.
The American welfare state is a complex, evolving, and deeply flawed system of social programs and policies with the purpose of providing economic and social assistance to needy individuals and families. It encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including unemployment benefits, food assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and housing support. The stagnant design and the limited scope of the welfare state are both effects of political ideologies, economic conditions, and social priorities in the United States. Conservatives and liberals alike have debated its size and effectiveness, with the former arguing that a more extensive, European-style welfare state discourages traditional American self-reliance and fiscal responsibility. Liberals (social democrats, in particular) view it as a vital safety net for vulnerable Americans and advocate for a comprehensive extension.
common Ground: Concern For The Economy
The balance between these perspectives continues to inform the ongoing debate about the role and future of the American welfare state in the context of broader social and economic challenges. The future trajectories of both populism and the welfare state are uncertain. Still, it is undeniable that they are linked, as the rise of the populist right in the United States has the potential to influence the conversation about social democracy and the welfare state in several important ways. The first manner in which social democracy finds an unlikely ally in far-right populism is that both groups harbor a more intense focus on economic inequality than others. Populist movements often tap into the frustrations of uneducated or working-class Americans who feel left behind by globalization, technological change, and specific social issues.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2022 Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC).
For this reason, populist groups on both the right and the left have a heightened awareness of economic inequality–––also a central concern of social democrats. As populist right-wing leaders have gained prominence, they have inadvertently brought matters of income and wealth inequality to the forefront of the political agenda, sparking discussions about the need for a stronger safety net and more progressive taxation amongst their political rivals. The foremost issue that social democrats focus on is balancing the market-based capitalist economy and a robust welfare state to provide their citizens with a high and equal standard of living. As more right-wing populists, although ideologically far from their left-wing counterparts, bring to light the enduring problems with the American economy, the issue becomes more relevant across the board.
Shared Motivation: Down With The System
Similarly, populist movements, with their anti-establishment rhetoric, exert pressure on mainstream political parties (both Republicans and Democrats) to respond to the concerns of their bases. While conservative populists pressure the American government to reform, center or center-left parties may adopt more progressive policies on healthcare, education, and income redistribution to appeal to their own disaffected voters. Reactionary politics are dividing people in the United States more than ever before, but they are also forcing the government to come to terms with problems of income inequality, poverty, and slowing economic growth that it has been skirting around. In a social democracy, the government plays a proactive role in regulating markets, ensuring fair competition, and implementing policies to mitigate income inequality. Access to quality education, healthcare, and social services are all topics surfacing in the Democratic Party and with independent politicians, suggesting that demands for democracy and building a welfare state are not going away soon.
Federal assistance is becoming paramount, given that relief programs set up after the COVID-19 pandemic are expiring, but poverty rates in the United States are only increasing, not slowing down. These programs include healthcare (Medicaid continuous coverage), food assistance (SNAP emergency allotments), housing (emergency rental assistance), and childcare–––notably, the expanded child tax credit that caused 3.7 million children to fall below the poverty line in 2022. Social democracies are becoming a more significant part of the dialogue because they typically have progressive taxation systems to fund these services, with higher earners paying a larger share of their income. By combining market dynamics with social protection, social democracy aims to create an economy that is both efficient and equitable, striving to minimize poverty and provide opportunities for all citizens to succeed.
Summary
Resistance from far-right populists to a more expansive welfare state may not last as long as they hope, considering that more red states than blue states enjoy welfare benefits or suffer from higher poverty rates, with eight of the ten states with the highest official percentages of people in poverty being conservative. Higher income rates correlate with support for the Democratic party in the United States, and liberal states tend to subsidize (nine out of ten states that sent the most money to the federal government from income taxes voted blue in the last election) the benefits that red states disproportionately receive (nine out of ten states that sent the least voted red). With their voters poorer and more uneducated and becoming more so by the day, it is only a matter of time before members of the populist right realize that their forerunner for the 2024 election, Donald Trump, is focusing on the wrong points.
Furthermore, problems with immigration, the economy, and identity politics have become focal points, drawing a wedge between traditional conservative values and the more populist values within the Republican Party. The populist right also resists or counteracts efforts to expand the welfare state, focusing more on the culture wars they are passionate about than the real economic and social problems many of them face. This resistance has led to polarized debates and gridlock on social policy issues, driving thousands of conservatives from the Republican Party in droves. The rise of the populist right in the United States has the potential to stimulate a more pronounced discussion about social democracy and the welfare state. However, the nature of this conversation will depend on various factors, including the specific policy positions of populist leaders, the response of mainstream political parties, and the broader political and economic context.
