If 2025 was already shaping up to be the most challenging period of the century for the international system established after WWII, recent days proved to be among the most devastating so far. Israel further ignored obligations toward global agreements by sending a squadron of warplanes to Qatar, bombing a Hamas delegation participating in ceasefire talks in Doha. The last meaningful forum aimed at dialogue may now have gone up in smoke.
No fewer than a group of unmanned aerial vehicles from Russia violated the territorial skies of Poland. For the first time, Nato airpower was engaged against enemy targets within the borders of a member nation. Regardless of if this violation was a technical mishap or deliberate probing by Moscow, as western experts believe, it represented “the closest we have been to open conflict since the second world war,” the Polish leader, the head of government, stated.
And then, a prominent conservative voice, a firebrand conservative activist and staunch supporter of Trump, was assassinated while addressing college students and political followers at a Utah university. In the absence of proof regarding the perpetrator or intentions, Trump immediately blamed “those on the radical left,” accusing them of rhetoric that led directly for the terrorism occurring currently across the nation now.”
Asked how the divided nation could heal following the murder, Trump said he was indifferent”. His explanation for that was chilling: “The radicals on the right act aggressively since they oppose criminal activity … The radicals on the left are the problem – and they are vicious and horrible and politically savvy.” In this manner polarisation transforms into tribalism. This is how cycles of hostility accelerates toward a point of no return.
Actually, more than three-quarters of deaths linked to extremism across America over the last 10 years have come from individuals on the far right, while left-wing radicals responsible for only a fraction of them. The former president denounced ideologically motivated attacks in general a day later – yet omitted mention of a series of recent assaults against Democrats, which involved multiple murders. To him, the problem is always “them”, and not the loyal supporters constituting his base.
The political and cultural aftershocks from the assassination are certain to emerge in the coming weeks, but the biggest danger in a polarised climate involves the shooting transforms into a Reichstag fire of our age. That arson attack on 27 February 1933 signaled Germany’s shift away from democracy to outright dictatorship. The Nazi leader, newly appointed as head of state, seized the moment to eliminate basic rights of the Weimar constitution – expression, media independence, association, assembly.
“Anyone who stands in our way will be cut down,” he declared, inspecting the damaged structure. Numerous leftist activists found themselves imprisoned, including all 81 Communist deputies within the legislature. With the left neutralised, the Nazis quickly cemented control.
Within modern America, the tragic killing has gripped the country, energizing political bases and loyalists, a fact he recognizes. The white supremacist, Matt Forney, clamoured for detainment of every Democratic politician, explicitly labeling the murder as the movement’s Reichstag fire moment.
In truth, here is the event a potential rescue a struggling administration scarred by a sharp drop in job numbers, currency devaluation, and real estate turmoil. Trump mourned Kirk as though he were family, but the rhetoric suggested this would be as much about pursuing Trump’s enemies as justice. Right after the assassination, he vowed to pursue all individuals of those who contributed in this tragedy … even groups that fund and support it.” He specifically mentioned a billionaire philanthropist, the American-Hungarian philanthropist and Democrat donor. He is dangerous,” he informed NBC News, he “should be put in jail.”
The reasons for the assassination remains unclear. Ideological leanings belonging to the attacker, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, seem confused as those of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20 year old who attempted to assassinate the former president at a rally. Is this truly left-wing extremism targeting the radical right – or is it the strange, chaotic subculture of online niches entering reality? The slogans engraved upon the bullet casings at the scene appear unlike a political statement and more like a mix of immature jokes and gaming references.
But it is hard not to fear that suppression of “unwilling” academics, lawyers, journalists, civil servants, armed forces members, and judicial figures across the country will intensify. Thus far, online responses resulted in multiple instances of terminations and diplomatic staff have cautioned non-citizens against endorsing or joking about Kirk’s assassination, instructing consulates to take “appropriate action” against any foreigners who do.
The former president has often prospered on chaos and disorder. When genuine emergencies are absent, he invents scenarios – like nonexistent crime waves in major cities, the capital and Chicago. Manufactured unrest advances his ambitions. Now he has been handed chaos on a silver platter. No wonder he shows no concern about national unity.
The shooting offers an ideal justification for tightening his grip, silencing dissent, and concentrating power – so that his successors may inherit full state control, irrespective of personal appeal, merit or electoral support. After all, all authoritarian regimes must be established initially; after consolidation, it becomes far easier to uphold.
Liberal democracy and international frameworks have flaws, yet they provided peace, advancement and prosperity – the very opposite of dictatorial rule. Implying that America, a founder of modern systems, could soon slide into complete dictatorship, with rulers adopting historical extremist mindsets, may seem far-fetched.
However, alternatively, it is quite plausible. Authoritarian rule remained recent history during the upbringing even at the heart of contemporary Western nations were growing up. Across European states, most families have some history of the death, destruction, hatred and poverty that authoritarianism leaves behind. To safeguard coming years, they should examine historical lessons.
