Neoliberalism (what Regean spearheaded) crushes the common man and its widespread embrace has deprived people of the ability to hope for stuff like a house or the ability to afford a family. People are struggling and want change - centrists are failing to deliver that.

One thing to observe is that in areas where true left wing governments hold sway (like Spain) they’re thriving. But yeah, disappointing centrists marauding as liberals (like Starmer) underdeliver and then get extremist right wingers elected.

A combination of things:

First, misinformation travels at light speed thanks to the lack of control in social media and internet.

Then, we have a generational crisis that is causing a strong lack of confidence in the actual political class because they are seen as incapable of resolving our generation issues.

Add to this that there is the perception of a strong migration problem (pushed by the far right).

The far right capitalizes on all of the above.

Also, it is treated like a cult by its followers because they thrive in environments where the intelligence is not required (it’s actually encouraged to not be intelligent and critical thinker).

The far right is also known to be populist, and they don’t need to be held accountable for their lies because their followers act as a cult.

If you sum this all up, you get our situation: young people voting fascism even more than boomers (look at Germany’s last election).

It really is scary.

Russian election interference. It’s so easy and cheap!

Sounds like Australia the-one-without-kangaroos isn’t at the stage where they start talking openly about that yet though, that’s sad. Hopefully they’ll find their Maria Butina soon.

Liberal delusions from boom times are giving way to the cultural, political and economic contradictions of globalization in a world of nation-states.

It’s odd how all of Putin’s short-term strategies have failed, but his long term ones like brexit and supporting the far right throughout Europe are working a treat.

He has at least a few competent people in his rogues gallery.

There is - socialist economic policies that do work.

The problem is that whenever people ask for those they get centrist neoliberal economic policies.

Aren’t Austrians just Germans pretty much?

The FPÖ certainly thinks so, yeah. Most of the rest of us do not.

They can be whatever they want, so long as they don’t produce another Hitler.

Aren’t Americans just English pretty much? We all know how much they like their daddy-king

I’m sure some Germans wish they could claim Mozart, the Strausses and even Hedy Lamarr as their own, but they were not and they never will be.

I’m sure Austria would be willing to give Germany Falco, however.