Description
Russian and Chinese elites have reacted positively to electoral successes of right-wing populist movements and leaders. Observers in both countries positively assessed the rise of right-wing populism in democratic states as beneficial to Russia and China in terms of domestic politics as strengthening the legitimacy of authoritarian governance and international politics as weakening the Western primacy. They welcome the renewed emphasis on sovereignty. Anti-individualist, anti-universal and identitarian ideas can be assumed to gain support in Moscow and Beijing. The drive for sovereignty and unique character of each nation/political community fits with the evolution of Russia and China’s official narratives in the 2010s. On the other hand, their assessments of costs and benefits in terms of Russia and China’s foreign policies and their roles in multilateral global governance differ. Russian elites are more supportive of right-wing populism than their Chinese counterparts. The latter recognize costs and challenges of the rise of right-wing populism for Chinese engagement with the world, in particular in terms of climate change governance and economic governance. This, in turn, limits the potential for practical convergence between rising powers and right-wing populism.
