Malaysian Politics

Episode description: Ethnonationalism, religious nationalism, neo-fascism and other forms of right-wing and ultra conservative populist movements are on the rise, in Malaysia and across the globe.

From the growing popularity of PAS and Perikatan Nasional in Malaysia, Narendra Modi and his Hindu Nationalist project in India, to strongman Donald Trump or the Evangelical Christians of the Republican Party in the US, and the anti-immigration Marine Le Pen in France, the list goes on and on. This has led to massive polarisation across ethnic and religious lines.

While each country and region has its own unique historical and sociopolitical contexts, one can’t help but wonder what are the parallels that can be drawn. Why are we polarised and could class struggle be a remedy? We speak to Assistant Professor Peter Beattie, Political Economist and Political Psychologist, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).