From Brexit to MAGA
A Tale of Leaders Who Divide and Fall
A Morning of Unsettling Triumph
The morning of December 13, 2019, remains vivid in our memory—a day that felt like a fracture in our national soul. Boris Johnson and the Conservatives had swept the UK election, painting the map a deep blue. This apparent landslide was propelled by promises, potent slogans, and a fierce undercurrent of populism. Yet, for many, the atmosphere was far from celebratory. Those familiar with Johnson’s career sensed a seasoned opportunist seizing his moment, capitalising on the country’s most vulnerable state in a century. Brexit had divided us, not united us, and Johnson, with his charm and sheer confidence, had grasped the reins at the expense of honesty and integrity (Mance, 2019). This was power for its own sake—a self-serving conquest cloaked in nationalism.
The Architects of a New Order
Behind Johnson stood Dominic Cummings, an architect of chaos with an uncanny grasp of public psychology (Shipman, 2020). One of Cummings’ particular aims was to reshape what he saw as a bloated, outdated civil service—a centuries-old institution he viewed as obstructive and resistant to the Conservative vision. Like Napoleon’s ministers, who ruthlessly reshaped the French state to bolster their leader, Cummings was not merely a strategist but a disruptive force. Together, he and Johnson envisioned a government that could endure for a generation—a 20-year reign that would leave British politics unrecognisable. Their rhetoric hinted at a kind of dynastic permanence, a vision of Conservative rule stretching far into the future, imprinting itself on every aspect of British life (Mason, 2019). It was intoxicating and terrifying.
We see in Johnson and Cummings an echo of Rome’s Julius Caesar and his inner circle, whose ambition reshaped an empire. But just as Caesar’s power play eventually led to betrayal, so too did the Johnson-Cummings alliance rest on shaky foundations. Their vision was not grounded in service to the nation but in the consolidation of personal power—a recipe that, as history shows, often ends in conflict.
An Echo Across the Atlantic
Flash forward to today, and the shadow of that morning stretches across the Atlantic. America finds itself in a parallel reality with Donald Trump’s recent re-election. Trump has always been a master of reading and responding to public discontent, framing himself as the answer to a country’s deepest frustrations. But his second term is different; it’s not only a personal victory but a consolidation of power. He now has the popular vote behind him and holds The House and Senate firmly in his grip—a trifecta of control that even Johnson could only envy (Fisher, 2024). Trump’s America echoes our 2019 UK in unsettling ways—an empowered leader bolstered by sycophants, willing to reshape institutions and abandon norms to satisfy his vision of power.
However, resistance at the state level, particularly in Democrat-leaning states, could yet counterbalance this grip. While Trump’s control over the federal machinery may be solidified, moods can change quickly in such polarised times. With the vote count close—Trump’s 75.5 million to Harris’s 73.4 million (BBC, 2024)—the seeds of opposition are already showing, hinting that his dominance may not be as unassailable as it seems.
It’s essential for America to remember that the appearance of a landslide can hide a nation split at its core. Leaders who capitalise on division are fragile in the long run; they build castles on sand, mistaking the temporary fervour of their followers for an unshakable foundation.
The Psychology of Populism and the ‘Strongman Appeal’
Leaders like Johnson and Trump tap into what psychologists call the ‘strongman appeal,’ a phenomenon where people facing crises become more susceptible to authoritarian figures who project confidence and simplicity in their promises. As societies confront challenges—economic instability, cultural division, or national crises—leaders with authoritarian tendencies can appear as steadfast solutions, harnessing people’s fears and frustrations into loyalty. Populist leaders wield these emotions skillfully, presenting themselves as the nation’s sole defenders against a vaguely defined but menacing “other.” This approach, while effective in the short term, leaves a nation divided and ultimately erodes unity, as citizens become split into ‘us vs. them’ camps rather than finding common ground.
Such tactics are rooted in Machiavellian principles, famously outlined in The Prince, where rulers prioritise power over virtue, manipulating their image and crafting alliances to maintain control. Johnson and Trump exemplify this approach, placing their personal authority above the nation’s well-being. Yet, as Machiavelli warned, this pursuit of power without principle ultimately leads to downfall, as divided societies lose trust in leadership and leaders lose their grip.
The Inevitable Collapse of Self-Serving Power
In the UK, Johnson and Cummings thought themselves untouchable—until they weren’t. Their ambitions, unchecked and unrestrained, cannibalised their power, tearing at the very fabric of their alliance. Leaders like Johnson and Trump are masters of shifting blame when things go wrong. For them, there’s always an external enemy: civil servants, opposition politicians, ‘remoaners,’ the so-called ‘wokerati,’ Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, immigrants, foreigners, Muslims, or even the nebulous ‘deep state.’ The list goes on, a cast of scapegoats ever-widening as they deflect from their own failings (Toynbee, 2021). Yet, as history shows, when no external enemy remains, they inevitably turn on each other.
We remember seeing the images of Cummings’s final departure from Downing Street—him walking out into the night, clutching a cardboard box. At the time, the details were murky. Had he resigned, or was he sacked? Regardless, the cracks in the obelisk were visible to us, and we could feel that the alliance was beginning to fracture. No sooner was Cummings out than he began spitting venom back into the tent, publicly exposing internal conflicts and turning the machinery of government into a spectacle of betrayal. Cummings’ relentless attacks plagued not only the rest of Johnson’s premiership but continued to haunt the Conservative government until its eventual downfall.
The collapse of the Roman Empire serves as a powerful historical parallel. Power consolidated under the Caesars led to corruption, conspiracies, and a rot from within—a rot that eroded Rome’s once-unshakable structure (Holland, 2004). Just as Rome’s might was undermined by internal betrayal, so too do modern-day alliances built on ambition and ego face inevitable implosion. Trump’s inner circle will likely face similar fractures, as the pursuit of power without accountability breeds only isolation and downfall.
A Lesson for America
Here’s the lesson for America: history does not favour leaders who ignore integrity. Power taken without a foundation in service is a brittle thing. Johnson’s reign, for all its bluster, was short-lived, remembered more for the chaos it left than the stability it brought. His rule fell apart, and more broadly, the fallout from his tenure hurtled his party towards electoral oblivion. And Trump, despite his formidable win, faces a future on that same trajectory. The electorate’s discontent remains; his hold on power may be firmer, but it’s only as strong as the illusion he sustains.
Hope Amidst Division
For those who worry about America’s direction, take solace in this: division-driven leaders inevitably reach a breaking point. They will tear at each other, betray each other, and, in time, their ambition will hollow them out from within. Johnson’s victory was potent but fleeting—a brief reign in British history that ultimately fell apart. America’s story, we hope, will follow a similar arc, not because of any ill will toward its people, but because the world is simply better without these kinds of ‘leaders.’ Leaders who rule by sowing division, mistrust, and fear leave a legacy of damage that transcends borders.
Let this be a moment for Americans to reclaim hope, to remember that unity has a deeper strength, and to stand by those who believe that government should be built on cooperation, empathy, and vision—not the pursuit of personal power. There is resilience in the millions who cast their ballots against Trumpism; there is a promise that this too shall pass. May we, on both sides of the Atlantic, find the courage to hold out for better days and better leaders.
References
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Fisher, M. (2024). Trump’s Triumph: What It Means for American Politics. The Washington Post, [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-triumph-2024 [Accessed 13 Nov. 2024].
Holland, T. (2004). Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic. London: Abacus.
Machiavelli, N. (1513). The Prince. Florence.
Mance, H. (2019). The Conservatives’ Brexit Victory and the Future of the UK. Financial Times, [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/brexit-victory [Accessed 13 Nov. 2024].
Mason, R. (2019). Johnson’s Ambitions and the Vision of a 20-Year Conservative Reign. The Guardian, [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/johnson-cummings-conservative-dynasty [Accessed 13 Nov. 2024].
Shipman, T. (2020). Inside Johnson and Cummings’ Vision for a New Britain. The Times, [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/johnson-cummings-vision [Accessed 13 Nov. 2024].
Toynbee, P. (2021). The Collapse of Johnson and Cummings’ Alliance: A Tale of Power and Betrayal. The Guardian, [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/johnson-cummings-collapse [Accessed 13 Nov. 2024].