In 2016, Great Britain moved towards what was called back then “the largest exercise in British democracy. The largest in its entire history. However, it turned out in the end that it was just exercise in manipulation of the masses of people by using populist propaganda, instead of stories about the actual situation and objective analyses.
I’m talking about the Brexit referendum. The choice between two possibilities only was very simple, inside or outside the EU, without any requirements and without careful consideration of consequences; it comes as no surprise that the campaign on both sides looked like a mere fight of political figures. It has become obvious at the very beginning of the process: whoever was able to arouse the populist feeling, could win.
EU imperative
While I’m becoming aware of the fact that the EU isn’t perfect and that it needs a reform and democratization, I also acknowledge that, in so far real politics of European and global values, the EU is important and desirable for the maintenance of peace, economic prosperity and social cohesion of the European continent…
Indeed, I’m really worried about many mistakes and injustices within its structures, but I firmly believe that the EU is the best and the only means that can generate changes that we need.
That’s exactly the reason why countries like the one where I live, (Montenegro), want to join the EU.
But, looks like I’m the minority, since many arguments put forward in the campaign haven’t aroused interest or attracted attention regarding the influence Brexit will have on the continent. Both sides in the campaign addressed to their masses, to those who felt the most vulnerable to their jobs and those vulnerable to immigration.
In fact, conditions of this propaganda had similarities with the one used in the thirties of the last century in Germany. Back then, German propagandists used Jewish as scapegoat for all the illnesses that emerged in Germany after World War I. Now, in the Brexit process, migrants, and particularly free movements of EU citizens, are in the focus of hatred.
Populism and fascism
Every fight against the “establishment” in democratic countries, when it’s not based on any economic and social policy, is always led by those who have a specifically determined agenda aimed at provoking chaos, damaging any social cohesion and thus strengthening their position among the masses.
This is the method used by those who lead Brexit, as well as those who supported the strategy that enabled Trump to become the President of the USA.
Similar, if not replicated strategy, used elsewhere, can be seen here as well, in Montenegro. For several weeks, every Saturday, the opposition in Montenegro has been organizing mass demonstrations against the Government. However, some alternative economic and social programs haven’t been suggested by those who manage the protests.
When politicians in any country “play with the mass”, not offering some supported alternative, they have then embarked on the path of democratic deficit, rushing towards altar of populism!
Protagonists
Populism is the fascism of the 21st century, and its diffusion all over the world, especially in Europe, coordinated and guided by several protagonists whose different agendas still match.
Three most powerful and most influential protagonists of populism in the international arena are: Steve Bannon with his “Movement” organization, James Dowson and his “Knights Templars International” and Vladimir Putin with all his power and influence.
We all know that in the US, Bannon was Trump’s strategist and that Putin also helped using the power of the “Secret State”.
Destabilization of democracies
In Hungary, Victor Orban is tightly connected to the “Knights Templars International”, the quasi Christian nationalist movement. Jim Dowson, founder of N.T.I., was so active in Serbia that the senior of MI-6 personally went to warn Vučić about Dowson.
If we take a look at Montenegro, we know that three GRU agents have been there and that they took part in the coup attempt.
Taken individually, all those examples seem unrelated. However, when you bring the pieces together you get the picture. The process of the destabilization of democracy, supporting the ideals of populist feelings and manipulation of the media “critics”. Undermining intellectual analysis in such a way that fiction directs the facts making them insignificant.
Author of the text, Jason Gold, is the member of Labor International and Momentum International. Both organizations belong to the British Labor Party. He lives in Montenegro.
