Emergence Of Strongman Analysis

The Emergence of the Strongman

Recently across the globe, a new wave of politics has emerged – it is the return of the so-called strongmen in politics. In Southeast Asia alone, we have countries led by strongmen figures. Brunei is led by a Sultan head; The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr. Hun Sen, is known for being a tough leader who uses government thugs to fight off politicians who belong to the opposition. He is also said to have a “stranglehold” on the Cambodian economy with businesses and interests in highly profitable economic sectors like mining, finance, energy, and trade. His hold and control of the factors of production fortifies his existence as a strongman in Cambodian politics. In the Philippines, the people elected Rodrigo

He said “some voters do not share democratic values, and politicians must appeal to them as well. These voters are simply more attracted to a system that favors their own particular religion, race, gender or birth position. When large inequalities exist, the problem is aggravated: People tend to take out their resentment on groups they believe don’t share their way of life.” It has been said that one key characteristic of strongmen is their capacity to ostracize those people who don’t belong to their group. Despite being polarizing figures, strongmen find their power in loyal supporters who believe with their vision. The isolation of the strongman’s group as superior to the rest causes those on his side to rally hard for his causes. They feel that by supporting the strongman, they are actually bolstering the importance of their social

Strongmen are skilled at framing situations and issues that can help project them as the person skilled for the rigors of doing a hard, dirty, and difficult job. The political and social conditions that brought Hitler and other strong men like Stalin and Lenin after the year 1873 in Europe are similar conditions that has given rise to the strong men we have today both in global and national politics. In the Philippines, Duterte won by focusing on his platform of eradicating crime, fixing the country’s problems in six months, and fighting off drug lords who pervade and influence even the smallest communities and baranggays in the Philippines. The need of people for security gives strongmen a source of power. In times of conflict, people seem to be more willing to give up some of their rights and to succumb to the strongman. It’s true that not everyone will surrender to the strongman, but the assurance brought by their boldness attracts many supporters. Strongmen are usually polarizing people. They divide and conquer. Similar to the ancient world wherein wars between tribes were common, strongmen also love to wage wars with a certain opponent. This gives them something to fight against. This also becomes a source of strength. People who are afraid of facing strong enemies especially because of the risks it entails support a strongman who shows that he has the capacity to defeat the public