Garčević on RFE on the Rise of the Far Right
Amb. Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published a recent Op-Ed on political trends in Europe, the United States and the Balkans including the growth of the extreme right movements and political ideas in Western democracies.
Amb. Garčević’s Op-Ed was published on November 26, 2016 by Radio Free Europe, an American media outlet in Prague, the Czech Republic that covers 23 European states and broadcasts/publishes its programs in 26 languages.
From the text of the Op-Ed:
The election of Donald Trump, Brexit and the growth of the extreme right movements and political ideas in Western democracies represent a big test for their democratic achievements during the last 30-40 years. For the first time since World War II, the liberal (parliamentary) democracy is questioned from within, by its citizens who vote for those who challenge the concept of an open, tolerant society putting a question mark over fundamental human rights such as gender equality or rights of vulnerable groups.
In Trump’s election messages, I recognized strong, nationalistic rhetoric and easily made promises that I had experienced in the late 80’s in Serbia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia. I still remember the ominous and warning shouting against “the others” who are to be held responsible for all “our” difficulties. We are what we believe in. As much slander, hostility, and fear of others determine our political action, so they portray our state of mind. In others, we recognize what we love in ourselves, don’t we? Support for Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen or in Heinz-Christian Strache in Austria speaks what we actually love in ourselves and what kind of world we want to see around us.
Prior to joining the Pardee School faculty, Amb. Garčević’s served as National Coordinator for NATO in Montenegro, where he managed inter-agency coordination and NATO public campaign promoting Montenegro’s membership to the organization. You can read more about him here.