Democracy, once the unassailable bulwark of Western civilization, seems to be fracturing from within. It is as if the very foundation, built upon ideals of liberty, equality, and self-governance, is now crumbling under the weight of disillusionment, manipulation, and deceit. The bond between the governed and those in power weakens, leaving a vacuum. Into this void step opportunistic actors—often foreign, often authoritarian—weaponizing modern information flows to tilt the scales in their favor. At the forefront of this infiltration stand Russia and China, two states that, despite divergent ideologies, converge on one crucial objective: the destabilization of Western democracy. And in this sinister pursuit, they have found fertile ground within the swelling ranks of far-right and extreme political parties.
The Fracture: How Democracy Lost Its People
At the heart of democracy lies an implicit contract between the electorate and their representatives: citizens trade their trust and their votes for leadership that advances collective interests. But over the past few decades, that trust has eroded. Institutions have begun to appear distant, mechanical, self-serving. Policies increasingly seem to cater to elites, leaving large swaths of the population disillusioned, disenfranchised, and disgruntled.
The reasons for this disconnect are manifold. Globalization, with its promises of prosperity, also brought disruption. Jobs once anchored in local communities have disappeared, outsourced to distant lands. Traditional industries crumbled, replaced by gig economies and precarious work. Meanwhile, the political establishment seemed to move further and further away from the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens. Complex bureaucratic systems, once the hallmark of governance, now resemble cold, faceless machines—functioning but no longer listening.
In tandem with these economic shifts, the advent of social media and algorithmic-driven platforms has rewritten the rules of engagement between governments and their people. Where once the town hall or ballot box offered avenues for discourse, now citizens retreat into echo chambers, their views reinforced by a constant stream of curated content. The result is polarization. Left and right, conservative and progressive—these binaries have hardened, calcifying into ideological silos. The center, once the bedrock of democratic politics, is eroded, leaving extremism to fill the void.
Within this fractured landscape, young voters, especially in Europe, have gravitated toward extreme parties. As highlighted by studies from the University of Potsdam, far-right movements like Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) are gaining unprecedented traction among youth—a demographic once seen as bastions of progressive values . These young voters, disillusioned by traditional politics, feel alienated, yearning for radical alternatives. The rise of the AfD among young voters illustrates how democracy, far from inspiring hope, has become a source of frustration, anger, and rebellion .
And so, into this maelstrom step external forces, eager to exploit the cracks in the democratic facade. Russia and China, both wary of the liberal democratic order, have perfected the art of information warfare. They are acutely aware that the collapse of Western unity, the disintegration of shared democratic values, serves their interests.
Russian and Chinese Propaganda: Puppeteers of the New Right
Russia’s playbook for manipulating Western societies is well-established. Beginning with their meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections, Moscow has demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of how to use digital platforms to sow discord. Russian propaganda operates like a virus—spreading misinformation, creating distrust, and inflaming divisions. Through networks of bots, trolls, and state-backed media outlets like RT (formerly Russia Today), the Kremlin amplifies messages that resonate with disenfranchised, disillusioned segments of Western societies.
In Europe, Russia has found a particularly receptive audience in far-right and populist movements. From France’s National Rally (formerly Front National) to Italy’s Lega Nord and Germany’s AfD, these parties have embraced narratives that Russia readily supplies. The message is clear: Europe is under siege—from immigrants, from globalist elites, from the European Union itself. Russian propaganda plays into these fears, portraying Vladimir Putin as the strongman who has resisted Western decadence and defended “traditional values.”
Russia’s propaganda efforts are often subtle, operating through proxies and influencers who may not even be aware of the broader strategy they serve. A study by the Cambridge University Press highlights the role of social media platforms like TikTok in pushing political content, noting how these spaces can become arenas for extremist ideas to flourish. A seemingly innocuous video mocking a political opponent can be the entry point into a rabbit hole of far-right ideologies .
China, for its part, employs a different but equally insidious strategy. While Russia thrives on chaos and division, China seeks influence through economic leverage and soft power. Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has drawn many European countries into its orbit, offering financial assistance in exchange for political acquiescence. However, China’s propaganda machine, particularly its state-controlled media, also plays a pivotal role in shaping public discourse in the West.
In recent years, Chinese propaganda has increasingly aligned itself with right-wing and populist movements in the West. Much like Russia, Beijing has understood that the far-right’s anti-globalist, nationalist rhetoric serves its interests. China’s messaging often highlights the failures of Western democracies—inefficient, corrupt, incapable of managing crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. It paints a picture of a world where authoritarianism offers stability, control, and, ultimately, success.
The convergence of these two propaganda streams—Russian and Chinese—has catalyzed a shift in Western societies. Democracy, once seen as the pinnacle of human achievement, is now framed as a broken system, incapable of responding to the challenges of the modern age. And for many, particularly the young, these far-right parties offer the illusion of a solution—a way to reclaim lost sovereignty, to reassert national identity, and to reject the perceived failures of liberal governance.
The Weaponization of Social Media
What makes this new era of propaganda particularly dangerous is its digital dimension. Social media platforms, designed to connect the world, have become the primary battlegrounds for these foreign interventions. Algorithms prioritize engagement, meaning the most sensational, divisive content rises to the top. This has allowed Russia and China to amplify their messages exponentially, with minimal effort and maximum impact.
Through platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, foreign actors can target specific demographic groups, tailoring their content to resonate with local grievances. In Germany, for instance, Russian-backed content frequently highlights the failures of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s immigration policies, stoking fears of cultural erosion. In the U.S., Chinese state media outlets have increasingly aligned with far-right voices critical of the Biden administration, pushing narratives that question the legitimacy of the American electoral system.
As a Handelsblatt article on AfD support among youth suggests, many young voters are drawn to these platforms as sources of alternative information . They distrust mainstream media, viewing it as an extension of the very establishment they feel has abandoned them. This skepticism makes them particularly susceptible to the kind of manipulative content that Russian and Chinese propaganda excel at producing. And once these narratives take root, they are difficult to dislodge.
The danger here is not just that young voters are being misled, but that they are becoming active participants in the disintegration of their own democratic systems. By embracing far-right and extreme parties, they are, often unwittingly, advancing the agendas of foreign powers whose ultimate goal is the weakening of Western democracy.
Consequences: A Democratic Death Spiral
The consequences of this propaganda-fueled rise of far-right movements are profound. First and foremost, it threatens the very fabric of democracy itself. These parties, once on the fringes of political discourse, are increasingly gaining mainstream acceptance. As their influence grows, so too does their ability to reshape political institutions. In some countries, far-right parties are already part of governing coalitions, influencing policy decisions on everything from immigration to climate change.
But the deeper, more insidious consequence is the erosion of trust in democratic institutions. Once voters lose faith in the legitimacy of elections, the impartiality of the judiciary, or the integrity of the media, the democratic system itself begins to unravel. And this is precisely the outcome that Russia and China seek. For them, a weakened, divided, and unstable West is not just a geopolitical advantage—it is a validation of their own authoritarian models.
The Path Forward: Reclaiming Democracy
So, how do we reclaim democracy from the clutches of disinformation, division, and disenchantment? The answer is neither simple nor singular, but a few strategies offer hope:
- Media Literacy Education: The first step is to arm citizens, particularly young people, with the tools to critically evaluate the information they consume. Schools should prioritize media literacy, teaching students how to recognize misinformation, understand bias, and think critically about the sources of their news.
- Regulation of Social Media Platforms: Social media companies must be held accountable for the role they play in amplifying disinformation. Governments should work with these platforms to create more transparent algorithms that prioritize factual, balanced content over sensationalized, polarizing narratives. Brazil shut down Twitter (X) due to it promoting right extremist propaganda. Europe should do so too. The same accounts for TikTok. The managers, owners and shareholders of these companies must be held accountable. Only then and with fees, high enough to impact yearly profit, for breaking the law, something will change.
- Rebuilding Trust in Institutions: Governments must actively work to rebuild trust in democratic institutions. This means greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of ordinary citizens. It also means addressing the economic inequalities that have fueled much of the disillusionment with democracy. Far-right and extremist parties have to be kept away from positions with power and influence. Banning the German AfD is long overdue.
- International Cooperation: Finally, democracies must work together to combat foreign interference. This includes sharing intelligence on disinformation campaigns, coordinating responses to cyberattacks, and developing international norms for the regulation of digital platforms.
Democracy may be under siege, but it is not yet defeated. However, the path to renewal requires a concerted effort—one that addresses both the internal fractures within democratic societies and the external forces seeking to exploit them. The challenge is great, but the stakes are higher still.
Another way out? Yes, we can.
I also have to be honest with you. When Kamala Harris first announced her candidacy, I had my doubts. She seemed too invisible under Biden’s presidency, too overshadowed to make any significant impact. Her public appearances often lacked the boldness required to spearhead a presidential campaign. But then something changed—her campaign started leaning into something often missing from today’s political landscape: joy. And it’s working.
The Failure of Political Communication in the Past
Let’s look back at a significant political communication failure—one that has recently played out in Eastern Germany. The rise of right-wing populism in this region, as evidenced by the most recent state elections, has left many political commentators baffled. It’s not just that parties like the AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) gained ground among older generations; they captured the hearts and minds of the youth as well. But this wasn’t just a sudden shift; it’s the culmination of years of political missteps, where the established parties across the spectrum, even the more moderate ones, all failed to speak meaningfully to the concerns of these voters.
Political communication, especially in the East, failed for a simple reason: fear became the dominant currency. Campaigns, policies, and public discussions turned toward the so-called “threats” facing society—immigration, cultural erosion, economic fragility. The political conversation shifted to the right as centrist and leftist parties tried to prove they could be “tough on immigration” or “firm on law and order,” unintentionally validating the very narratives of fear and division pushed by the right. Instead of standing their ground and offering an alternative vision, many mainstream parties doubled down on rhetoric that fueled more anxiety, inadvertently giving oxygen to the populists.
Even the media narrative joined in, focusing on crime rates and economic instability as core themes. Voters—especially the disillusioned youth—internalized these messages. Politicians weren’t talking about solutions or hope, only doom and gloom. Eastern Germany became a microcosm for this shift, where fear triumphed over optimism, and right-wing populism filled the void left by a lack of hopeful political narratives.
A Different Campaign: Kamala’s Turn to Joy
This brings us back to Kamala Harris and why her current campaign feels so different, so refreshing. Unlike the grim politicking that has dominated discussions in places like Eastern Germany, Harris is attempting something that should be simple but is often overlooked in modern politics: she’s trying to make people feel good. Her campaign understands that joy, hope, and positivity can be powerful drivers of political engagement—perhaps even more powerful than fear.
If you think about it, it’s reminiscent of a scene from Monsters, Inc. where the characters discover that laughter generates far more energy than screams ever could. Similarly, Harris is betting that optimism can energize a generation in ways that fear cannot. Gen Z, in particular, has reacted positively to her campaign, which has successfully employed memes, viral content, and positive messages that stand in stark contrast to the fear-driven narratives of her opponents. Whether it’s embracing viral trends on TikTok or associating herself with cultural icons, her campaign feels in tune with a generation that doesn’t want to be scared into voting—they want to be inspired.
Why Joy and Positivity are Powerful Multipliers
Looking at recent studies on political communication and engagement, including those from the Cambridge University’s exploration of youth democracy, it’s clear why Harris’s strategy may be more effective. Gen Z and younger millennials are tired of the doom and gloom. They’ve inherited a world where climate change, inequality, and social unrest are the norm. They don’t need to be reminded of how bad things are—they already know. What they want is hope, something to look forward to.
This is why Harris’s campaign has struck such a chord. Her messages are less about what we’re against and more about what we’re for. It’s not just about resisting Trumpism or authoritarianism; it’s about building a more inclusive, fair, and joyful future. Her focus on positivity, humor, and hope resonates because it taps into an emotional need for something better. In contrast to the disillusionment driving right-wing populism, joy becomes the antidote.
Of course, Harris faces challenges. The same Cambridge study points out that disillusionment with democracy is particularly strong among young people. Many feel that the system has failed them and are skeptical of politicians, no matter how upbeat their messaging. This is where Harris’s campaign will need to evolve. Memes and positivity may capture attention, but they won’t be enough to secure votes. Clear policies, especially on issues like climate change, economic inequality, and foreign policy, will be essential if she hopes to maintain her momentum and turn that joy into real political power.
Joy vs. Fear: A New Political Currency?
In the broader scope of modern political communication, Harris’s campaign feels like a bold experiment. Can joy truly be a political currency as powerful—if not more so—than fear? If we take the lessons from Eastern Germany, the answer might be yes. The political shift to the right was driven by fear—fear of immigration, fear of economic instability, fear of cultural loss. But that same fear has also left many voters feeling hollow, isolated, and even more disillusioned.
Harris’s approach offers an alternative: she’s not selling fear, she’s selling hope. In a world as anxious and fractured as ours, that might just be the most powerful message of all.
In conclusion, political communication has failed in the past by focusing too much on fear, driving political conversations to the right and alienating those who crave a more hopeful vision of the future. Kamala Harris’s campaign represents a refreshing break from this trend, offering a message of joy, hope, and positivity that resonates deeply with younger voters. The challenge now is to build on that foundation and ensure that optimism is backed by substance—because in the end, laughter might be a better energy source than tears, but it still needs direction. Obama managed to do the same trick.