Many people worldwide were shocked when Donald Trump was elected US president. People who habitually advocate thinking outside the box were probably astonished to see a president emerge from outside the political arena, which has dominated nearly all American presidencies. Trump’s presidency invalidates any kind of political sensibility.
The adoption of a moderate, reasonable approach to our global challenges has proven to be an ineffective US policy that people who believe in liberal democracy have been trying to advocate for years.
Apart from blind Democratic or Republican party loyalists, a large segment of American society decided, quite contentedly, to vote for Trump. These citizens were won over by his ideas and policies, period. Apparently unhappy with the “politics-as-usual” tactics that established American politicians have been applying for decades, they decided to bring in a business tycoon who knows nothing about politics.
US politics is known as a tale of sin and virtue. Bringing Trump to power will highlight the country’s sinful policies, making them more bold and obvious, to the detriment of its traditional sugar-coated policies. Trump, who is driving the US toward more racism and ignorance, constitutes a very real challenge for Americans. Efforts to expand liberal values should be multiplied substantially, simply to offset Trump’s impact.
Despite heavy criticism of him from the moment he became a presidential candidate, the US media (once recognized as a fundamental player in manipulating citizens in the country and worldwide) failed drastically to persuade Americans of Trump’s shortcomings.
A large portion of society probably saw the media as a biased entity that does not convey the truth — which it does not. The US media should thus re-examine its ethical role and impact on citizens.
People who believe strongly in liberal values should not only recognize their defeats, but come up with new ideas and a more functional structure to promote their beliefs. Trump will not be able to change the world or the US political dynamic. This can only be achieved via a strong advocating mechanism, not by a single person, even if that person is the US president. An important potential advantage of Trump’s presidency is that it may motivate American civil society to strengthen its role.
By realizing his presidential campaign promises that are full of racism and hatred, Trump is, in a way, helping the world become a better place. Building a wall on the border with Mexico and prohibiting citizens of certain Muslim-majority countries from entering the US are clearly prejudicial policies. Nevertheless, they should serve to vitalize Americans who reject Trump’s political stances, prompting them to promote their liberal and moral values more energetically.
Being the legitimate US president will not automatically empower Trump to be a world leader. Eventually, Americans will either intensify their endorsement of him or reinforce the role of civil society.
People who fervently believe in democratic values, especially those currently in power, should extend their efforts beyond rhetoric. Advocates of liberal democracy should explain to citizens the consequences of his policies.
• Mohammed Nosseir, a liberal politician from Egypt, is a strong advocate of political participation and economic freedom. He can be reached on Twitter @MohammedNosseir.
