Manav Arya

Post-2010, the world witnessed a renewed fascination with strongman politics. People were persuaded to believe that democracy was slowing down progress and that one powerful leader could solve all their problems. They placed their faith in leaders who considered themselves bigger than institutions and promised national greatness, prosperity and global dominance. Instead, what followed was the erosion of democratic institutions, repression of rights, wars and economic turmoil. Recent political trends suggest that this faith in strongman politics is beginning to unravel. People are realising that concentrating power in one individual who claims to be strong does not necessarily make a nation stronger. They are rediscovering the value of democratic freedoms, accountability and the institutions they once took for granted. More importantly, they are beginning to question what national greatness really means. Before promises of global dominance, people want something far more fundamental: economic stability, an affordable cost of living, and accountability from those in power.