It has been nearly two years since Israel attacked the Palestinian territories of Gaza, following the attack on Israel by the Islamic organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. Even people around the world who initially sympathized with Israel are now turning their sympathy to hatred as they see the faces of the children in Gaza. They are becoming disgusted and repulsed by the tactic of denying food to Gaza children who are as skin and bones as Jews immediately after being liberated from Nazi concentration camps. Furthermore, this anger is now being directed at the United States, led by President Trump, who supports Israeli policies. Anti-Israel boycotts are spreading, and American brands are being hit hard by them. Anti-Israel boycotts are particularly prevalent in Indonesia and Malaysia, where Muslim populations are large. Targets include Starbucks, KFC, and Pizza Hut.
Not only are Muslim countries turning away from the United States, but neighboring countries are also turning away from it. The Trump administration’s high tariffs and disrespectful behavior toward Canada have also irritated Canadians. There are also boycotts of American products within Canada. The decline in Canadians entering the United States has become more pronounced. The decline in tourism isn’t just affecting Canadian tour operators; it’s also beginning to affect the income of American guides who rely on tour guests. Guides are seeing less work and less income. Furthermore, this creates a vicious cycle, with tourists spending less money locally.
Authoritarian leaders like Putin, Erdogan, and Trump share four similarities: personality cults, disregard for the rule of law, populism, and fear and nationalism. Populism is closely related to a political approach known as “simple prism,” which asserts that complex problems have simple solutions. This simple solution becomes a slogan, like “Build the Wall.” But when they hit a barrier that doesn’t solve the problem, populists argue that simple solutions exist but are being hindered by malign forces. These malign forces include elites, complex legal systems, and foreign forces (such as immigration and border conflicts). When simple solutions become difficult, authoritarian leaders distract the public by dividing the population, persecuting immigrants, and invading other countries. We want to establish a government that doesn’t resort to such tactics.
