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Putin, Erdogan firmly in power, right-wing holding on in Australia, a semi-golpe in Brazil... nationalism is on top, at the moment.

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Russia and Turkey have always been (rampantly) nationalist. Russia had a short failed episode of opening up with Yeltsin while Turkey has been letting Ataturk (and the few reforming sultans in the late period of the Ottoman empire) down ever since he died.

Even the USSR was extremely nationalistic, albeit thinly veiled behind "internationalism".

Nationalistic of what nation? Russia is not nationalistic, Russia is permanently confused since 1917.

Putin was never elected in competitive election.

Brexit was competitive, Hillary-Trump competitive, Modi perhaps, Putin elections weren't. Not in 2000, not in 2004 and certainly not in 2012.

Are you confusing competitive with credibility?

Modi's election was comprehensive and with no competition, but it was also a legitimate voice of the nation. I'm not sure I could say the same for Putin, but his approval ratings remain high.

Nope I am not. You could vote against Brexit - an equal proposition. You did not have equal propositions against Putin, it was him against spoiler candidates, him versus straw men.

Fuck approval ratings.

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