Ideology is fundamental to radical extremism anywhere on planet. Be it the Colonialism, World Wars, Cold War, Neo-Colonialism or Terrorism, Ideology forms the core of these ideas. For centuries, the West has controlled the World. They have written and glorified their History in each part of the World. They didn’t stop right there. A systematic cleansing of History was carried out in each part of the World.
That’s the primary reason why Right is dominating Left across the World in today’s time. As the World becomes more and more globalized and economies integrate into each other, the chances of an economic meltdown due to external political events are always high. Governments across the World use Culture, Heritage, Religion, Nationalism and History to cite legitimacy as the Rulers of the Nation.
Take China for instance. China used to be an International Colony of British. That’s how the Hong Kong trade routes were built. China was always insecure about her continental boundaries and that’s why she built ‘The Great Wall of China’. But today she is secured on her continent and has disputes over maritime sovereignty. But the bigger picture says that China is suffering from “Middle Kingdom Complex” – The Great Silk Route which connected the World with China. China sees the World China-centric and that’s why it is reviving the “Great Chinese Civilization”.
The First Superpower of this Planet was The Great Persian Empire. Iran of today is reviving ‘The Great Persian Empire’. It needs legitimacy in not only its region but also in the Islamic World. Iran is making sure it has a sense of security to revive its civilizational legacy. The entire debate around the development of Nuclear Warheads revolves around the “Security Dilemma” vis-a-vis Israel and Saudi Arabia because they are American allies in their backyard.
The Soviet Union was perhaps the best example of communist socialist ideology that ever existed. Although Russians do have a great History before the formation of Soviet Union in 1922. President Putin is showcased as the guy who is reviving the Great Days of Russia. Russia wants to regain its position as the “Greatest trans-continental Nation” to have existed.
The Ottomans ruled for centuries and were at the forefront of spreading Islam across the World. The legacy of the Empire was re-written after it lost to The West in First World War. President Erdogan wants to revive the Turkish Ottoman Culture and become a greater power in not only Middle East but eminent corridors of Power in Europe as well.
The idea of “Hindutva” has nothing to do with Hinduism as a Religion. Hindutva is the revival based on the idea of morals and values of the Indus Valley Civilization. The revival of Yoga and Ayurveda symbolizes the revival of a civilization whose History was washed off by Islamic Invaders and British Imperialists. Religious Populism often overrules civilizational ethos and that is why the idea of “Hindutva” is misunderstood as radical in nature.
The East is pushing back against The West because as The East grows, it will try to revive their own ways and means of survival. The concept of Liberty has always thrived in The West but The East is very cautious about individual liberty because this is not how The East used to have a worldview when it was the Centre of Global Power. Precisely why, one would notice that Russia, China, Iran and Turkey are all under Alpha-Right Male Leaders and under US and EU Sanctions. India, too is driven by Right but it is not facing any sanctions because the theatre of Global Politics is right at the centre of Indo-Pacific, which The West is contesting with The East.
