The return of fascism in Italy

Exactly a century since the year Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini became the youngest Prime Minister of Italy in 1922, Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the neo-fascist party Brothers of Italy, is reported to become the next prime minister of the European country. The far-right front led by Meloni is more or less certain to gain 40-45 percent of the votes, while the ruling front may not make to the half of that. The outgoing government is nevertheless a right-wing party, Meloni's front is more extreme at it. Meloni, the new avatar of fascism who branded in her campaigns all religious, ethnic, sexual and immigrant minorities as the enemies of the people, cannot push humanity into a third World War. However, it is not a misplaced worry that she could cause new headaches in the name of racism and nationalism in an already turbulent world. Italy is made up of eighty percent Christians and nineteen percent non-religious people, where only less than one percent are Muslims. Given this, the last group does not pose any kind of threat to the rest. Yet Meloni's campaign was pivoted mainly on Islamophobia; it has to be interpreted as a consequence of the prevailing racism.

At a time when people are phenomenally becoming indifferent to Christianity in Europe with churches getting empty of worship, giving worry to Catholic authorities and clergies, Meloni asserted that she, as a Christian, will stand for nationalism, motherhood and family values. It is on this basis a large group of voters have been lured. Rising prices and the energy crisis stemming from Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding to the existing economic problems, are Italy's major problems. But Meloni, rather than promising to solve them, highlighted refugees and migrants from the Middle East as the main threat. It is borne out of the understanding that hatred based on nationalism and ethnicity, which has intensified in recent times, is the most effective and efficient way to mobilise people emotionally. Meloni who went on praising Mussolini in her youth changed that stand later. But now the fascist hidden in her mind is seen to be coming out.

This is not just the case of Italy alone. More than anything else, Donald Trump rode on a wave of racism and Islamophobia to the presidency of the USA. Again, there are signs of racism's return in America. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen won a shocking highest vote share of the post-war era - 41.5 percent - in the French presidential election. So is the situation in Sweden where the government of Social Democrat Magdalena Andersen collapsed. And the far right won. In our country, the ruling extremist Hindu forces are optimistic of a third term in the 2024 elections. With the opposition becoming weaker and scattered by the day, any hope for the opposite is fading. There are several fundamental reasons for this phenomenon. Most evidently, the dark forces have found it is easy to prey on the helpless people under the guise of racism and extremism in an economic sphere monopolised by policies of globalisation and liberalisation. Leaving the rule of law and the justice system frozen in their tracks, large masses of people can be held captive by temptations and provocations. The forces of darkness can silence those who speak from wisdom and righteousness. But the lessons of history show that fascism will not have the last laugh.