Donald Trump's MAGA Movement: Clash of Civilizations: Leading Towards Racism

  

Donald trump's MAGA Movement and Clash of Civilizations: Leading towards Racism

The MAGA movement was first launched by Ronald Reagan as a campaign slogan in his 1980 presidential campaign (Let's Make America Great Again). In recent years, this movement and slogan, "Make America Great Again" (MAGA), have been popularized by President Donald Trump during his successful presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2024. It was the belief of the supporters of the movement that before foreign influence, i.e., immigration, multiculturalism, globalization, and merger of multiple economies, America was a "great” country. Trump also believes that the United States can become a great country again only by adopting “America First” policies.

Now Hungary has adopted this slogan, but with different words as "MEGA—Make Europe Great Again,” as the new motto for the EU presidency. It means that “to become great again” will now flourish in Europe after America. It seems that MAGA is reshaping the theory of the “Clash of Civilizations." Some of the political scientists consider it as dog whistle politics. Is Donald Trump's movement "MAGA" a new adoption of clash of civilizations that may lead towards racism? We will have to consider this question.

Points To Discuss

We will discuss this topic on the following points:

•  Origin of MAGA movement in America

•  Understanding of MAGA

•  Clash of civilization and MAGA movement

•  Steps taken in January 2025

•  MAGA movement and Media

•  Conclusion

Origin of MAGA movement:

After Ronald Reagan, the phrase was used by Donald Trump, reportedly in November 2012, just after the Republican presidential candidate was defeated by Barack Obama. On June 16, 2015, when Trump declared his candidacy as the 2016 Republican presidential nomination for first term. This is considered the date for the beginning of the MAGA movement. This slogan rapidly attracted white working-class voters. To its supporters, MAGA represents a call to restore American prosperity, security, and cultural identity. During the campaign of the 2016 elections, political scientists, journalists, main stream media, and even political opponents did not pay any heed to the rhetoric. They considered that Trump was a weak candidate. But the results of the elections surprised not only all of them but also the whole world.

During the election campaign of 2024, Trump again adopted the same slogan. He raised the slogan, “We will make America strong AGAIN, we will make America proud AGAIN, we will make America safe AGAIN, and WE WILL MAKE America GREAT AGAIN!” He used to wear a red cap on which the slogan "MAGA—Make America Great Again” was written. Rather, he called it “MAGA 2.0." Again, it worked, and he became president for the term 2024 to 202028.

Understanding of MAGA:

To understand the MAGA movement, the following points should be kept in mind:

1. Protection of American Values.

2. Policy of “America First.”

3. Preservation of culture.

4. Defense against external threats on the cultural front.

5. Fear of immigrants, especially non-white immigrants.

6. Fear of globalization.

The supporters of the MAGA movement refer to preservation of culture and defense against external threats like immigration, globalization, and multiculturalism. This clearly shows their mentality of “Us vs. Them.”.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, in addition to its political stances, the MAGA movement is known for its particularly combative character, which exemplifies the extreme partisanship of contemporary American politics. In keeping with that stance, controversial rhetoric has flourished within the movement, including messages that critics see as homophobic, sexist, or racist or as inciting violence.

Clash of Civilizations and MAGA Movement:

Political scientist Samuel P. Huntington introduced the theory of the “Clash of Civilizations." According to this political theory, in the future the source of conflicts and wars would be fought on the basis of cultures and civilizations and not on the basis of racial and economic basis. In recent years, Minhaz Merchant put forward a theory that “the new clash of civilizations offers deep and stimulating insights into how the contest between the four major civilizations, i.e., the United States, China, India, and Islam, will shape our country.”

Now look at steps taken by Trump just after he assumed the office of president in 2017. For his whole term, Trump, to fulfill his promises, used “executive orders.". After about one week of his step into the White House, he signed an executive order, through which he banned immigration to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries, followed by a second ban in the coming months. A ban was also imposed on immigrants from North Korea and Venezuela. In January 2017, Trump also issued an order for the construction of a wall or fence with the border of Mexico. In 2018, Trump began leveling tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, the European Union, and China. These steps clearly show the conflict between different civilizations.

Steps taken in January 2025:

On January 20, 2025, while addressing his inaugural address, President Trump said that it was the start of the “golden age of America." He also announced his priorities like immigration, trade, and national security.

He took the following steps in the first week of his second term:

1. On first day, he ordered redefining the 14th Amendment’s grant of citizenship to anyone born in the U.S

2. During the first week, he issued eight executive orders about immigration, four about DEI.

3. Foreign policy front and end of wars.

4. He addressed the World Economic Forum and told the business community to make their products in the USA or to pay very high tariffs.

5. By the end of the first week, he also ordered to freeze almost all foreign aid.

The plans of the Trump administration are very obvious about Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, and Greenland. Mexico refused to provide landing rights to US military planes loaded with deportees.

All the above-stated steps clearly show that Trump wants to work as a MAGA movement during his second term.

MAGA movement and media:

The majority of the followers of the MAGA movement consider that main stream media is biased against the movement, lying on behalf of the enemies of the movement. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, this belief has resulted in a vulnerability among MAGA members to false news stories and particularly far-fetched conspiracy theories circulated by MAGA-supporting media outlets and repeated by MAGA leaders. Examples include charges that Democratic former president Barack Obama is not a native-born U.S. citizen and that Democrats’ immigration policies aim to replace white Americans with non-white immigrants.

The movement was mainly spread by social media. Even now the MAGA is widely and vehemently supported on social media platform X (former Twitter).

Conclusion:

It is evident from the above discussion that the slogan and movement “Make America Great Again” have become powerful symbols of cultural and ideological conflict in contemporary America. Although it may restore national pride, its implications to enhance clashes of civilizations and racism are very intense and far-reaching. America, being a superpower, should take solid steps to minimize such effects. Now it is the need of the hour that we, the people of this world, should think and start a movement, “Make Mankind Great Again.”

 

FAQS:

Q. No. 1: What MAGA stands for?

Ans: It stands for “Make America Great Again.”

Q. No. 2: What is “MEGA”?

Ans: MEGA stands for “Make Europe Great Again.”

Q. No. 3: Who first launched the MAGA movement and slogan in America?

Ans: The MAGA movement was first launched by Ronald Reagan as a campaign slogan in his 1980 presidential campaign (Let's Make America Great Again).

 

The Politics of Pakistan: Role of the Army: Present Scenario

  

The Politics of Pakistan, Role of the Army in Present Scenario

To comprehend the dynamics of politics in Pakistan are multiplex. The role of the army in Pakistan’s politics and governance has been there since day one. Even the military establishment of that time refused to accept the orders of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah about Kashmir. The military establishment has been deciding the future of politics and politicians in Pakistan. There has been a romance between people of Pakistan and its army due to conflict with India, dispute over Kashmir, and fighting against terrorism. The army has been playing a central and significant role in foreign policy, economic policy, security policy, and internal affairs. This has been an enigma of the politics of Pakistan. The present scenario of the role of the army in Pakistani politics is very important. In this blog, we will discuss the following topics:

1. Historical Background: The Roots of the Role of the Army in Politics.
2. Constitutional Framework and the Role of the Army
3. Civil-military Relationship: a Delicate Balance
4. Present Scenario

Historical Background: The Roots of the Role of the Army in Politics.

After the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, bureaucratic and military institutions started to influence politics. A bureaucrat, Ghualm Muhammad, was appointed as Governor General of Pakistan. During the coming 10 years, seven prime ministers were appointed, not selected by the people of Pakistan. In early 1958, Army Chief Ayub Khan was appointed as Minister for Defense. This was the first overt participation of the military chief in the politics of the country. In October 1958, the then Army Chief General Ayub Khan intervened and imposed martial law. Later on, he became president of the country. He ousted the politicians from the field of politics through a black law called "ABDO." He considered that politicians were incompetent and clumsy. In later years, the army took the reins of government three times more, assumed direct control, and the country swayed between civilian and military rule.

The military has directly governed the country for nearly half of its existence, under leaders like General Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq, and General Pervez Musharraf. Even during periods of civilian rule, army establishment has been covertly controlling the governments and has played a vital role in making key policies like foreign policy, defense, and economic policies. Every time the army establishment told the nation that politicians were corrupt and a security risk. In this way, the military ruled the country directly and overtly for nearly half of its existence, under leaders like General Ayub Khan, General Yahya Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq, and General Pervez Musharraf. 

Constitutional Framework and role of Army

Till now, Pakistan has experienced three constitutions: 1956, 1962, and 1973. All the constitutions declared Pakistan a federation, with clear separation of powers between the executive, legislation, and judiciary. While the military was put under executive and civilian control. But ground reality remained different during the whole period. The military always entrenched its role in governance in one or the other way. The judiciary always acted as a puppet in this regard. It validated and legitimized the martial laws under the grab of “doctrine of necessity," which further weekend the democratic norms in the country.

The role of the Army was also strengthened by establishing the National Security Council (NSC) with memberships of top army personnel. One thing also to be remembered is that in 1975 the top intelligence agency ISI was given political role through a notification called “N-75” by the then Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

The politicians also played a vital role in encouraging the military. The opposition political leaders have always requested the army chief to play his "role" to end the rule of the ruling party. Every time the opposition invited the army to topple the government and every time the government was overthrown, there would be celebrations. In the 90s, politicians were busy playing the musical chair of power with the help of the military. Politics became weaker, and the military's grip on power became stronger.

Civil-Military Relations: A Delicate Balance

Civil-military relations in Pakistan have always been strained. In particular, whenever Nawaz Sharif appointed an army chief, after some time the relationship between the two became strained. Especially his relationships with General Jahangir Karamat, General Pervez Musharraf, and General Qamar Javed Bajwa. They became very tense, for which he had to pay by being arrested twice. Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is widely believed to have been brought to power by the military establishment in 2018, had a strained relationship with the same military establishment. As a result of which he was removed from power after a no-confidence motion. Now it is clear that both the then Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the ISI chief were behind the removal of Imran Khan from power. But unlike the past, the Pakistani nation refused to accept it.

It seems that the relations of political governments in Pakistan with the military establishment are very delicate. Whenever a political government does not work according to the interests of the army, they have to lose power. This has been the routine in Pakistan for the past 77 years. Foreign policy and economic policy have always been under the control of the military establishment, and the establishment is not ready to lose its control over them.

Present Scenario:

After the removal of Imran Khan from the office of Prime Minister, the role of establishment in politics has become very vivid. Like previous leaders, Imran Khan did not opt to remain silent. He began to speak openly and publically in public rallies about the role of army establishment in his removal with the aid of politicians. This was unprecedented in Pakistan. After that, Imran Khan had to face the consequences. About 200 criminal cases were registered against him. He was also convicted in four cases, including a shameless case of "Iddat."His wife, who is a totally apolitical housewife, was also convicted in two cases. In recent days, about 38 cases have been registered against her. Following steps were taken against Imran Khan:

1. He was arrested, and he has been in custody for the last 525 days or more.
2. He was declared disqualified to contest the elections.
3. He was convicted in politically motivated cases of corruption like the Cipher case, the Toshakhana case, and the Al-Qadir University case.
4. Censorship was imposed on the media to cover the activities of Imran Khan and his party. Even taking his name on media is banned till now.
5. His political party, PTI, is not allowed to protest for political rights.
6. Every possible effort was made to oust his part from the elections of 2024.
7. The election symbol of his party, “Cricket Bat,” was snatched unconstitutionally with the help of the Supreme Court.
8. His party members were stopped even to file their nomination papers for elections in 2024.
9. Election results were snatched from his party.
10. More than 10,000 workers of his party are detained in politically motivated criminal cases.
11. Even his party workers were convicted by Field Court martial, i.e., military courts.
12. 13 workers were killed by law-enforcing agencies on the 26th of November 2024 in Islamabad. 

All these steps were taken to victimize Imran Khan and his workers by the military-backed government. The role of deep state actors is very obvious.

Conclusion:

In short, since its inception, Pakistan has faced the unconstitutional role of Army establishment in politics. The politicians have also played a pivotal role in it. Time is needed to eliminate this role and bring the role of the army within the scope of the constitution. Moving forward, Pakistan has to redefine the civil-military relationship. This is essential to making Pakistan a real democratic state.