The Age of the Hardliners
As a wave of right-wing leadership redefines global politics, are liberal values being outpaced by populist nationalism?
By Sanjeev Oak
In a world increasingly marked by political polarization, the rise of hardline nationalist leaders is no longer a regional phenomenon—it is a global trend. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Melony recently offered a sharp defense of such politics, positioning herself alongside figures like Donald Trump and Narendra Modi, and launching a fierce critique of liberal and secular ideologies.
“Today, even if you throw mud at us, the people will continue to elect us,” declares Meloni—an assertion that reflects the confidence of a movement buoyed by public support, not elite endorsement.
Meloni’s recent remarks have underscored an unsettling but undeniable reality: liberalism, once considered the ideological cornerstone of modern Europe, is in retreat. And the vacuum is being filled by leaders who promise a reassertion of national identity, sovereignty, and economic self-sufficiency.
From Clinton to Trump: The Pendulum Swings
Melony’s critique draws a historical contrast. She notes how leaders like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair once shaped a global wave of liberalism. Their promotion of multiculturalism and open borders was celebrated. Yet, when right-wing leaders today emphasize national interest, they are often branded as threats to democracy.
“It is this selective outrage and intellectual inconsistency that exposes the hypocrisy of the liberal elite,” Meloni argues.
India’s Narendra Modi, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Meloni herself are painted with the same brush: dangerous populists. But Meloni flips the narrative, suggesting that the very establishment that once dictated the global liberal order is now facing backlash from voters across the world.
Their common thread? All three have challenged entrenched systems—be it media, academia, or multinational political structures like NATO or the European Union—and emerged victorious, largely due to mass appeal and a promise of national resurgence.
Why the Rise of the Right?
The populist resurgence isn’t occurring in a vacuum. The fallout from liberal immigration policies, especially in Europe, has been profound. Following the Syrian refugee crisis, nations like Germany and France opened their borders. While morally commendable, the economic and social toll has become politically unsustainable.
Germany, for instance, spent over €20 billion in a single year to accommodate refugees—costs borne by taxpayers. Refugees, often willing to work for lower wages, distorted local labor markets. Cultural tensions, too, have escalated. Incidents of violent clashes between migrant communities and native populations are no longer isolated.
“Liberal immigration policies have inadvertently seeded the ground for right-wing backlash,” argues Oak. “Economic insecurity coupled with cultural alienation is a potent political fuel.”
It is no surprise then, that anti-immigration parties are gaining traction across Europe—in Sweden, Italy, France, and even historically liberal Germany. The Brexit vote, driven by migration concerns, was a watershed moment. Now, several European countries have begun tightening immigration policies, while the United States under Trump pushed aggressive deportation agendas.
America First, India Next
The return of protectionist policies is another defining feature of this shift. Trump’s “America First” doctrine was much more than campaign rhetoric. His administration imposed tariffs to protect domestic industry and repatriated jobs from foreign shores. Critics saw it as economic isolationism. Supporters called it long-overdue economic nationalism.
India has adopted a similar approach. Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives aim to reduce dependency on imports and promote indigenous manufacturing.
“The essence of both policies lies in reasserting control—over borders, markets, and cultural narratives,” notes Oak. “They seek to rebalance globalization on terms more favorable to national interest.”
The impact of these strategies is visible. India is emerging as a hub for semiconductor production. The country is also positioning itself as an alternative to China in global supply chains, signaling a broader reconfiguration of geopolitical influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Media Bias and the Populist Surge
Meloni’s most controversial assertion is that the backlash against leaders like her, Trump, and Modi is not spontaneous but manufactured. She claims global media, largely controlled by left-leaning corporations, disproportionately targets right-wing leaders.
The 2024 Indian elections saw what some perceived as a coordinated international effort to discredit Modi. U.S. funding channels, including those allegedly influenced by philanthropist George Soros, were accused of setting narratives against the Indian government.
“When a political establishment, media conglomerates, and international donors all align against a leader—and yet he wins—it’s not demagoguery. It’s democratic resilience,” Oak contends.
A New Political Grammar
The ongoing shift is not merely a reaction to liberal failures; it is a recalibration of what governance means in a rapidly changing world. The political vocabulary is evolving. Words like sovereignty, national pride, and self-reliance are no longer the domain of fringe voices—they have entered mainstream discourse.
This shift also underscores a deeper civilizational anxiety. In both the West and the East, societies are grappling with identity, cohesion, and security. Hardliners are not just offering solutions; they are offering belonging.
“The popularity of strong leaders is not the symptom of democratic decay but perhaps a reflection of its evolution,” writes Oak. “People are not rejecting democracy—they are reshaping it in their own image.”
Meloni, Trump, and Modi—though separated by geography and political contexts—are united by a common ideological spine. Their rise signals a broader transformation in public sentiment: from cosmopolitanism to rootedness, from openness to protection, from globalism to nationalism.
Their critics call them autocrats. Their supporters call them saviors. What is undeniable, however, is that they are reshaping the global political landscape. Whether this is a course correction or a dangerous detour is a debate the world will continue to have. But for now, the age of the hardliners is here—and it’s rewriting the rules.