The Dissolution of Solid Structures: A Look at the Impact of Populist Leaders

Web Editor

August 1, 2025

a typewriter with a face drawn on it and a caption for the words opinion and a question, Edward Otho

Introduction to Karl Marx’s Idea

Karl Marx, a remarkable writer, economist, and philosopher, once penned the phrase, “All that is solid melts into air.” This quote refers to capitalism’s ability to transform not only outdated production relations but also culture, politics, and society itself. Marshall Berman, an American Marxist philosopher of Jewish origin, built upon this idea in his 1980s book titled “All that is Solid…” He explores how modernism has strayed from its course and now continuously destroys itself, or “melts into air.”

Berman’s Perspective on Modernism

Berman’s modernism differs from the technological advancements and democratization of societies. It’s not a proposal for human emancipation. His work is relevant as we observe globally how things we once considered solid—democracy, trade, globalization, human rights, diversity, environment, integration, alterity, and gender—are dissolving into thin air.

The Dissolution of Solid Structures: Causes and Consequences

This disintegration is not paving the way for a human-centered revolution but rather leading us towards the non-values of accumulation, the law of the jungle, and the looming threat of a world war. The global powers no longer prioritize humanity’s salvation, as echoed by Patxi Andión in his song “Padre”: “There is no salvation without everyone.”

Populist leaders, inspired by Donald Trump, are driving this transformation. They share common traits: anti-establishment language, promises of a better world for “the people” through simple and quick solutions, simplistic narratives reducing complex issues to easy fixes, romanticized portrayals of a glorious past, and disregard for equality, diversity, and environmental concerns. Despite their imagined political positions, they all lean right-wing.

Angela Davis on Trumpism

In a recent Colombian forum organized by Vice President France Márquez, the legendary American activist Angela Davis stated to El País, “Although I see fascism and authoritarianism infecting the U.S. government, I am convinced it’s temporary…” While Davis is right about the temporal nature of the Trump phenomenon, she seems to overlook the enduring impact of trumpism.

Similar observations can be made in Mexico. Those who considered AMLO a temporary phenomenon were correct, but they misjudged lopezobradorismo. These instances aren’t isolated; the global pendulum, as Leon Trotsky would say in Permanent Revolution, has swung rightward.

Extreme Right-Wing Ideologies

The right-wing surge isn’t about center-right democracy believers or those who value hard work discursively. Instead, it’s an extreme and unabashed right-wing ideology that openly proclaims its creed. Trump is the most prominent figure, but his emergence on the global stage has empowered previously marginalized characters, parties, and currents. It has also boosted large corporations, granting them unprecedented accumulation without previous constraints.

The Shift in Global Political Balance

With the political balance tipped rightward, questions arise: Will a democratic government convince people that migrants aren’t part of the problem? Can we eradicate the resurgent racism in many countries? In Mexico, what will happen when a non-MORENA government attempts significant changes?

While we focus on trade paradigm shifts, the transformation has been ideological, political, and social. We must recognize this better.

Preparing for the Future

When the world they’ve built with their non-values crumbles—as it inevitably will—I hope new generations are ready to seize the opportunity. It may sound idealistic, but let’s hold onto hope and determination.

Key Questions and Answers

  • What does Karl Marx’s quote mean? It refers to capitalism’s power to transform not just outdated production relations but also culture, politics, and society.
  • Who is Marshall Berman and what is his contribution? Marshall Berman is an American Marxist philosopher who, in his book “All that is Solid…”, explores how modernism has strayed from its course and now continuously destroys itself.
  • What are populist leaders doing to global structures? Populist leaders, inspired by Donald Trump, are driving a transformation that disregards equality, diversity, and environmental concerns, tipping the global political balance rightward.
  • What is the significance of Angela Davis’s statement? While Davis correctly identifies the temporary nature of the Trump phenomenon, she overlooks the lasting impact of trumpism.
  • How should we interpret the shift in global political balance? This rightward shift necessitates recognition of the ideological, political, and social transformations occurring, not just the trade paradigm shifts.