Looking back, historians may see 2024 as the year Progressives got routed in America and globally. Doing a 360, the rise against elitist rulers, throwing off concentrated power, often unaccountable, untrustworthy, and corrupt, was epic. Three-quarters of Europe tips right now.
The next closest thing, aside from individual revolutions, is the year 1848. That year, as in 2024, a democratic wildfire caught and spread the desire to be free of abusive governments.
In 1848, just over 170 years ago – as in 2024 – populations rural and urban collectively revolted. That year, for reasons tied to alienation from those in power, elitism in another time, lack of understanding by monied leaders of average people’s pain, high food costs, and unrest grew.
As economic conditions worsened, protests, uprisings, migration, and civil unease spread across Europe. Economic fears were compounded by tone-deaf governments suppressing free speech, discussion of democracy, liberties, nationalism, and a free press.
People in more than 50 countries found their voice and pushed back. Throughout, their governments learned nothing, not from their missteps or neighbors; they blamed, jailed, and punished the aggrieved, inflaming passions.
Ironically, against this broad effort to suppress liberties, an unlikely coalition formed – among the workers, middle and upper classes who were non-government people, and active reformers.
The power of this alloy was strong, made stronger by deaf leaders, disdain for them crosscutting society. The effects were felt everywhere, and change was solidified as people took power back from the elites. In Austria, Hungary, and soon Russia, serfdom was banished. In Denmark, the monarchy was ended, and the Netherlands representative democracy was established.
The world flipped in France, Italy, and Germany; those in power were driven out, new forms of government were adopted, more accountable to the people, and fortified over time.
In an era with no cars or high-priced gas, food still took half of an urban worker’s wages, while rural workers just starved. You saw the Great Irish Famine and fear and lawlessness across Europe.
As if humanity never learns, governments criminalized those who criticized leaders, jailing, killing, and silencing them while continuing to prevent the discontented from voting.
Unstable systems in nature collapse. They also do so in government. People demanded the vote. One can almost hear inner counsels of leadership calling them deplorables or garbage, but they spoke.
They demanded free speech, the vote, and constitutions – many modeled on America’s, now 55 years old. The movement was powerful, not a ripple or wave but a tsunami. 1848 changed Europe.
Enter 2024. Yes, much revolutionary change occurred in 170 years, country uprisings, and after World Wars I and II and the Cold War. What has not happened is an 1848 moment – spontaneous, whirlwind rejection of many elitist governments.
Yet that is what we are seeing, and continue to see. People are rejecting elitist policies pushed by agenda-driven, tone-deaf leftists who suppress everything from energy to free speech.
The breadth of global rejection in 2024 is breathtaking, forcing governments out, reversals by corporate allies, and the way 1848 nobles worshiped and then rejected government sponsors.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal recently, no reference to 1848 – the heyday of elitism is over. Headline: “The Progressive Moment in Global Politics is Over,” and “weak economic growth and immigration are driving gains by the right, especially populists,” i.e., The People. See, The Progressive Moment in Global Politics Is Over – WSJ.
In country after country, not least in the United States, with President Trump’s victory, the tide is turning or turned. The Journal: “This past year showed that the progressive politics that dominated most industrialized countries over the past two decades or more is shifting to the right, fueled by working-class anxieties over the economy and immigration, and growing fatigue with issues from climate change to identity politics.”
Truly said. So, what’s next? Right after 1848, reforms across Europe were implemented, and power was restored to the people. But history never ends. From the ashes of 1848, elitists reconfigured themselves as communists and, in time, progressives. Outflanked by the middle, they drove from the left. Expect it again.
For now, rejoice and take stock: America is not the only nation seeking normal power back to “The People.” Globally, progressives were routed, and we may see more in Canada and Germany in 2025. Let us … hope so. Happy New Year!
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
This article presenting the comparison of two pivot points in European. and American history is surely important as the reasons for major changes on a large scale,involving several countries means that the world is developing new systems – part of human nature – and in 1848 and now in 2024 the changes are for the better. As with the Declaration of Independence the spirit of Liberty leads to a. way of thinking that is good, healthy , morally right . Responsibilities accompany changes in the structures of the systems described — something that freedom loving , intelligent people understand and accept . This historical comparison is something needed at this time — great work RBC Well Done !
They get too much recognition being called Progressive. They should be called REgressives. There’s nothing pro about their ideas as far as America is concerned. As far as calling the MAGA movement extremism, what is people wanting to have faith in the justice system, being able to decide their own future instead of the government telling you what to do, when to do it and how to do it considered extremism ? People are only afraid of the MAGA movement if they are corrupt to the core to begin with.
Globally, a rout, maybe but the 2024 US election was far from a rout! Blue states may have voted more for Trump for President, but they STILL elected blue dems for state congresses, state AGs and so forth. So, now the majorities in both houses are thin and any RINO or Freedom Caucus member that doesn’t get exactly what they want and votes no, we all lose. Republicans can ONLY make Trump’s agenda work by being a solid red line. The “rout” did not give us that. It is up to we the people to express our outrage when anything does NOT move forward in the swamp! It had better not be a repeat of 2017.
I certainly wouldn’t call 2024 a “route.” This fight is far from over. The cabal of communists, socialists, marxists, maoists, etc., will not stop trying to take away our freedoms and rights until they are outed and made illegal. These cretins have successfully taken over the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is dead. There is NOTHING democratic about the vile individuals sitting on that side of the aisle. The RINOs in the Republican Party are part of the cabal of cretins. If they get their way, they will render the Republican Party moot as they did the Democratic Party. They are pushing for a one-party system…Communism. Anyone who can’t see this is either blind or a fool. No resting on our laurels for the Independents, true Democrats, and true Republicans. Those “Republicans” trying to sabotage Trump must be exposed and thrown out of office as soon as possible. Remove them by expulsion, impeachment, or by voting them out, whichever is faster.
Our present era is in a unique convergence of issues not unlike prior to both the civil and WW2 wars. Progressive evil running this nation has brought the world towards WW3. Moderates like Neville Chamberlain compromising with evil is unacceptable.
There are many clear situations in history that called for courageous leaders to take a strong stand–courageous leadership must remain steadfast and unmovable.
Progressivism, Statism will never succeed: BECAUSE Evil always collapses upon itself. Freedom and prosperity can never be multiplied by division.
“History never ends.” So true, and also true that it repeats itself, albeit at a different time or place. I’m glad to be alive at a time when more rational thought is beginning to take hold. Hopefully it will be many years before the tide turns again.
Routed, I doubt it! . . . Just a temporary setback! They’ll NEVER stop trying till they succeed.
The MAGA movement can never rest on its laurels because the other side works 24/7 to fight it. I pray more and more will support this populist movement and say NO to global elitism. The elites and progressives in the Democratic party and globally at Davos do not care about the welfare of American citizens though they try to make it look like they do. They just want to stay in power and push their sick ideology and continue to exert control over the legacy corporate media, our schools, our military, our government, and healthcare.
Not to be pedantic,but a 180degree change.
I’ve noticed that FACEBOOK hasn’t been on my back lately. Nice.
Thank you, Mr. Charles, for your informative retrospective. Hopefully, a portion of the gross, governmental misconduct and impulsive lying will go out of vogue for awhile…
Extremists on both sides claim they are for free speech but in reality can’t resist suppressing free speech.
Only about 15 percent of the people are progressive and about 15 percent are MAGA. The other 70 percent who don’t vote straight party are left out to dry. The 70 percent don’t want the woke nonsense where everything has to do with race and they don’t want the 2020 election denying nonsense. They want to live their lives and afford their groceries and are tired of the extremism from both sides.
There needs to be compromise bills on everything including taxes, immigration, and social issues. What is so wrong about cantering to the middle 70 percent for once?
Most people are moderate, not progressive and not MAGA, but almost every congresscritter is either progressive or MAGA. There is something very wrong with that.