Anton Cebalo in Noema:
For most of the 20th century, politics and even political parties were viewed as a home outside of home by many, fortified by strong social bases of support. Unions, churches, civic organizations and local community life made up the foundation. This rootedness created both manageable stability for the state and meaning for people.
These places of belonging have since declined, and so too has politics declined as a home. What has emerged in response is an untethered and distrusting public. Historically, transitional periods of great economic and social dislocation like ours are also times of heightened anti-political sentiments. Everyday people become detached from and even suspicious of their public representatives.
What makes today’s situation remarkable is how forcefully anti-political feelings have risen across many different countries, all at the same time. Recent polling shows dissatisfaction with democracy across 12 leading high-income nations at a median of 64% — a record high. These trends extend far beyond the Western world. 2025 has seen unprecedented revolts in Asia motivated by a strong sense of disgust toward politicians and nepotism. Similar anger has fueled protests in Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar and elsewhere across Africa.
Politicians and elites now find themselves “ruling the void,” in the words of political theorist Peter Mair.
More here.
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