Across the wealthy world, politics is increasingly returning to the question of what constitutes a 'good life', with leaders and movements treating this as a public affair. This trend is observed in various regions, from Maga and Hungary's Fidesz to Modi's India and Xi's China, where law, education, welfare, incentives, penalties, and national narratives are used to advance specific ideals of human flourishing.
This approach diverges from the traditional liberal democratic understanding, which suggests that a decent state should protect rights, grow the economy, and maintain order, but show restraint on deeper questions of what makes a life worth living. Liberal states typically aim to help individuals pursue their chosen lives without ranking them.
The article notes that Hungary's Fidesz party, prior to its defeat in April's election, exemplified this different approach. Leading figures from the party reportedly viewed demographic decline as existential and linked national survival to personal flourishing, with one defender stating that women without children tended to be miserable. While Fidesz lost the election, the model it helped popularise is described as persisting.
The author suggests that while many of these regimes may be corrupt or repressive, liberals should acknowledge that these movements also offer genuine human goods such as belonging, purpose, family, faith, and recognition. The article also mentions Pauline Hanson and One Nation in Australia as learning to adopt this direction, advocating for a "monocultural" Australia and suggesting government should define a proper Australian life.