The recent developments on the international political stage, with Donald Trump assuming the presidency of the United States and the broader rise of the far right in Europe, are testing every citizen who believes in rationalism, science, the integration of the European Union, and the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democracy. These new developments challenge liberal democracy, put forward raw power as the sole criterion, and generate concern and questions about the future course of the world.
Is this merely a temporary situation, or an inevitable historical regression, true to the logic that “history moves two steps forward and one step back”? Are we facing something more complicated and deeper — a systemic shift that we have not yet fully understood? The answers to these questions are not easy. However, two dominant responses seem to emerge: resistance and waiting.
Resistance arises from the necessity of upholding democracy as our core value-based choice and as a response to the retreat of liberal democratic values. Resistance requires conscious choice, determination, strategy, unity, and long-term planning. Organized political participation, the strengthening of institutions, and the mobilization of social forces that support democracy are key elements of an effective response. On the other hand, waiting can be seen as a tactical approach, hoping for potential positive outcomes and shifts in political and social balances. However, there is always the risk that passivity will lead to the entrenchment of irrationalism and authoritarianism, making their reversal even more difficult.
The current situation strongly resembles Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot (1948). In the play, Godot is an idealized, undefined figure in whom the other characters place their hopes for salvation—yet he never arrives. Similarly, today we observe a growing expectation—gaining more and more ground—that conditions are being created that will provide solutions to the world's pressing problems: from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, geopolitical rivalries, migration flows, mounting public debt, trade deficits, social inequalities, and climate change, to the ongoing search for answers to existential questions.
The social and political polarization observed today, both in the United States and Europe, is exacerbated by the interaction of new technologies and social networks, which facilitate the spread of misinformation and the reinforcement of extreme ideologies. The questioning of science, the dismantling of truth, and the undermining of democratic institutions are dangerous phenomena that heighten feelings of uncertainty and disillusionment.
At the same time, globalization and economic inequalities intensify social discontent, providing fertile ground for populist leaders who exploit citizens' fears and insecurities. The challenges are enormous and multifaceted: economic competitiveness and stability, defense and energy issues, the environmental crisis, and the preservation of social cohesion all require immediate and coordinated responses.
However, as in Beckett’s play, so in reality, the self-perpetuation of hope, faith, and expectation—fuelled by an unholy alliance of revisionists, populists, and the ultra-wealthy—is not enough, especially considering Europe's experiences in the past century. The anticipated hope may ultimately lead to the realization of its futility and the intensification of problems. In any case—beyond the necessary awakening of Europe—what we need is action, a deeper understanding of the ongoing changes, active citizen participation, and resistance. Only in this way can we hope that history’s pendulum—which swings between self-destruction and the pursuit of truth—will once again move toward progress.
By George Vernicos
G.Vernicos represents tourism in ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OF GREECE and in EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE. He is Ambassador to the EUROPEAN CLIMATE PACT
