cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/66479569
Nationalism, the rightwing, racism - they are all returning full force in Europe. Trumpism and Russia are using all their powers to destroy European democracies; through open and covert propaganda. You, the voter, can never claim you weren’t warned.
The problem with this approach is: Many do not survive.
Yes, of course.
But both of my grandfathers managed to avoid being sent to fight in Africa during Portugal’s Colonial Wars, so it is not impossible. One had connections. The other put a bee in his underwear the day before the inspection. Each did what was within their means to survive. 13 years of war, 41 of fascistic dictatorship.
But Estado Novo was a bit different. Salazar wasn’t a populist, for example (quite the opposite, in fact). I doubt these new movements will manage to hold onto power for that long. The man did not create a cult of personality, he was an economics professor before being called upon by the army to serve as Minister of Finance and, subsequently, as Dictator. He was chosen for his academic qualifications, and he is an example of how fascistic technocracy isn’t good, but still more stable than fascism, ultranationalist populism.