Australian politicians should learn at Trump phenomenon - 20th January 2017

Theo Theophanous

January 20, 2017

Heraldsun and Advertiser

Australian politicians need to learn from Trump phenomenon

The Trump presidency is upon us and is set to shake up politics in the United States, and indeed throughout the world.

The rise of authoritarian attitudes that are now driving behaviour at the ballot box. It’s these attitudes that elected Trump, gave us Brexit and have seen the rise of Pauline Hanson (Pic: Liam Kidston)

Before we can get a handle on what to expect, we first have to understand how we got here.

Earlier this month in the Herald Sun I argued that the rise of Donald Trump can be explained by two factors. First, increased fear in the community about crime, terrorism, economic security and foreigners who don’t fit in — and a belief these issues are being ignored by the political elite.

Second, the rise of authoritarian attitudes that are now driving behaviour at the ballot box. It’s these attitudes that elected Trump, gave us Brexit and have seen the rise of Pauline Hanson.

They involve support for strong leadership to fix things even if that means breaking the rules, greater discipline in our schools, heavy penalties for crimes and antipathy to outsiders who don’t fit in or don’t share our values.

In a politically correct world, these authoritarian views often remain hidden even from pollsters. But recent research in America shows that having authoritarian attitudes is a high indicator of Trump support — beyond education level or even ethnicity.

Trump understood there was a groundswell of people who held these values and they had had a gutful of the establishment, media and politically correct elites. He also understood he needed a way of talking directly to these people. This he found in the form of Twitter.

“I can’t hear you. I only respond via Twitter.” (Pic: Timothy A Clary)

But what will happen now that he has achieved this stunning success? Playing to base authoritarian attitudes of people with simple populist slogans is not the same as actually delivering.

Reversing the worldwide trend towards free trade, building a wall with Mexico, befriending Putin and abandoning NATO are all difficult enough to achieve given resistance from the establishment.

The real test will be if he can raise living standards, increase jobs and reduce crime. If he fails, the same people will reject him.

What the Trump phenomenon shows us is that failing to address people’s day-to-day concerns while pushing pet social issues and politically correct narratives is a recipe for accelerating the rise of authoritarian attitudes. This will see the rise of leaders like Trump and Hanson. In a recent poll reported in the Heraldsun support for Hanson shot up in Victoria to almost 10%.

It is time mainstream politicians understood their pet projects are not the priorities of ordinary people.

Aboriginal recognition in the Constitution, marriage equality, the Safe Schools program are important issues for some but they are not priorities for most.

There is little doubt a free vote in parliament would result in legalising same-sex marriage. The political classes have done their soul-searching and a majority are ready to endorse it. But I doubt it is a priority for ordinary people.

Without their real issues being addressed it’s an open question whether, in a plebiscite, ordinary people would do the politically if not morally correct thing and vote for same-sex marriage or constitutional recognition, or whether they would rise, Trump like, and reject these propositions.

Many politicians in Australia have tried to have it both ways.

For example, we are told we need to stop asylum seeker boats because of our concern for saving lives at sea. I would venture to say that many people with strong authoritarian attitudes have little concern for the lives of asylum seekers. They just want them kept out of Australia.

Smart politicians like Peter Dutton recognise these fears. They know they are appealing to attitudes that even if hidden will express themselves at the ballot box in their party’s favour — or will they? •

When a Trump or a Hanson comes along and brazenly says what many such people are secretly thinking, politics changes.

People harbouring such attitudes don’t have to unpick hidden messages of mainstream politicians. They have a clear and simple champion to vote for.

Yet the major parties keep sending underlying messages. Whether it’s the Liberal Party’s message on keeping the mostly Muslim boat people out, or the ALP’s message on keeping foreign workers from taking Australian jobs, it is the Hansons (or the Trumps) who actually benefit from the underlying messages.

 For example, we need honest dialogue about Islamic terrorism. Using politically correct statements such as “terrorism has nothing to do with Islam” doesn’t cut it.

We should put on the table our expectations of Muslim (and other ethnic) communities in terms of respect for our democratic values including rule of law, gender equality and freedom of speech.

For me, this is a prerequisite for a respectful multiculturalism.

Trump’s success in America is based on playing to underlying authoritarian attitudes with simple populist solutions. But delivering on raised expectations of an angry population will be much more difficult.

Instead of trying to emulate the success of Trump by playing to underlying community fears through hidden messages, mainstream politicians should address the genuine security, cultural harmony and economic fears in honest dialogue with the electorate free of politically correct slogans. If they don’t, they can expect more unpleasant surprises at the ballot box.

THEO THEOPHANOUS IS A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND FORMER STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTER