Far-Right Global Networks & Anti-Muslim Politics: Prof Mukulika Banerjee, LSE, London/Part 2

लंदन वार्ता: नई विश्व व्यवस्था لندن وارتا: نیا عالمی نظام- In a wide-ranging and incisive interview on the Cine Ink podcast London Varta: New World Order, Professor Mukulika Banerjee of the London School of Economics sat down with Pervaiz Alam to discuss the rise of the far right, the contradictions of anti-immigrant politics, and her latest research on taxation, inequality, and democratic accountability. Banerjee highlighted the strong coordination among far-right actors across borders. In Part2, Professor Banerjee argued that anti-Muslim sentiment (Islamophobia) forms the common thread across these contexts. From Trump’s early travel bans on Muslim-majority countries to European far-right groups like Tommy Robinson’s English Defence League, and parallel developments in India from the Gujarat riots to the Ram Temple movement, the targeting of Muslims provides a unifying element for the global right. These gatherings, which occur once or twice a year, facilitate networking, mutual support, and the sharing of strategies to advance right-wing politics in different national contexts. Banerjee noted that far-right anger is primarily directed at the idea of outsiders “taking jobs,” straining the NHS, and occupying school places, often accompanied by rumours of five-star hotel accommodation for migrants and criminality. Crucially, she pointed out that many white racists lack the cultural knowledge to distinguish between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs — their hostility is broad-brush. When right-wing movements gain strength — whether MAGA in the United States or similar forces in the UK — Indian-origin communities, particularly those on H-1B visas in the IT sector, often become targets, facing raids and cancelled green cards. She says, in India itself, the same political tendencies manifest as anti-Muslim politics, using terms like “infiltrators” and “traitors,” especially visible in states like Assam and Bengal. Taxation, Inequality, and Democratic Accountability The latter part of the interview turned to Professor Banerjee’s current research project, which examines the relationship between taxation, social solidarity, and healthy democracy. Prof Banerjee notes, when a rich person and a rickshaw puller both buy the same packet of biscuits, they pay the same GST — but for the poor man, it represents a far higher proportion of his earnings. This regressive taxation, combined with extreme inequality (the top 1 per cent holding a massive share of national income), undermines the social contract essential to democracy. #TheRiseOfFarRightInUK #londonvārta #cineinkpodcast #hindipodcast #urdupodcast #HowSafeIsLondonForIndianStudents #SouthAsiansInUK #lse #Islamophobia #londonschoolofeconomics #ProfMukulikaBanerjeePart2 #IndiaTaxation