Published: 01:35 AM, 15 September 2026 Last Update: 01:38 AM, 15 September 2026
A Historical Paradox Called Democracy
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain
On the morning of Democracy Day, as we sip our tea and extol the virtues of freedom of speech—reciting Abraham Lincoln’s famous words—we simultaneously harbor a secret desire to head to Russia. This paradox is ingrained in our very nature. While we may sing the praises of democracy, our feet invariably gravitate toward nations whose histories were once shaken by ruthless, autocratic rulers.
Like the cuckoo that heralds spring, we sing the melodious songs of democracy, yet we book our tickets to destinations that were once in the crushing grip of fascism. Behind the dazzling allure of Europe’s glittering cities lies a bloody and brutal past. Wherever people seek the soothing breeze of peace today, a look into history reveals that the soil beneath their feet conceals the sights of old dictators and the cruel legacy of colonial oppression.
Statistics show that hundreds of thousands of migrants arrive on German soil every year. The very same Nazi Germany—infamous under Hitler—has now emerged as a great savior for humanity. According to recent data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, over 1.5 million people have sought asylum in the land of Hitler’s successors in recent years.
Similarly, a peculiar scene unfolds in Italy. Thousands of people cross the Mediterranean annually to enter the country of Benito Mussolini, the father of fascism. Eurostat figures indicate that the total number of migrants—both legal and undocumented—in Italy has recently surpassed five million. Today, a celebration of democracy takes place in that original homeland of fascism, while people from across the globe—including Bangladeshis—risk their lives amidst turbulent sea waves, hoping to find a place to call home.
Turning our gaze toward Japan, we encounter a paradox of a different dimension. During World War II, the brutality of Tojo and his military junta left the people of Asia stunned. Yet, the 'Land of the Rising Sun'—bearing that legacy of extreme nationalism and fascism—has today become a prime destination for Asian migrants. According to data from Japan's Ministry of Justice, over three million foreign workers currently reside there.
The story of Spain is not much different. The scars of General Francisco Franco’s ruthless four-decade-long dictatorship and fascism still linger in the Spanish air. Yet today, hundreds of thousands of people from Morocco, Latin America, and South Asia—including Bangladesh—migrate to Spain annually. Official statistics indicate that foreign migrants now constitute approximately 12 percent of Spain's total population. Despite the anti-fascist slogans often voiced, we are now eager to breathe freely in the very land where Franco once held sway.
A look at Portugal reveals the history of António Salazar’s long-standing fascist corporate state system. Salazar’s *Estado Novo* (New State) kept Portugal imprisoned in darkness for decades. Yet, modern-day Portugal has gained a reputation as one of Europe's most accessible and open havens for migrants.
Turning one's gaze toward Russia brings to mind the terrifying 'Red Terror' of the Stalin era—a time when millions were sent to Siberian Gulags under an extreme form of dictatorship. While current President Vladimir Putin is also viewed by many as a fascist, that very same Russia has become a lifeline for millions of workers from Central Asia. According to Russian immigration data, over ten million foreign workers travel there annually in search of employment.
Looking at Turkey evokes the history of the Ottoman Empire's collapse and the subsequent era of harsh one-party rule. Modern Turkey has transformed into a massive hub for migrants, situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), approximately four million Syrian and Afghan refugees are currently residing in Turkey. Even though we may pay lip service to ideals like the Caliphate or democracy, when faced with reality, people today seek refuge in the very lands once ruled by old sultans.
When we look at France, while we hear the French Revolution’s message of equality and fraternity, we do not forget the history of Napoleon’s dictatorship and colonial oppression. The colonial fascism France unleashed—from Algeria to Vietnam—was unparalleled. Yet, today, over 200,000 new immigrants receive permanent residency in that very country each year. The magical allure of a French passport draws people far more than lofty rhetoric.
The history of the United Kingdom stands as a stark testament to global colonial exploitation and white supremacy. While leaders like Winston Churchill spoke of democracy at home, millions were starving to death in Bengal due to a man-made famine. Today, people from across the globe are desperate to immigrate to the very heart of that colonial fascism. Every year, more than 700,000 people enter Britain through net migration, enacting a peculiar form of historical retribution.
A look at America reveals a history defined by the genocide of indigenous peoples and the brutal, fascist mentality of Black slavery. Despite claiming to be the world's greatest democracy, their past is stained with the blood of exploitation. To label current President Donald Trump merely an exploiter or a fascist would be an understatement. Yet, people worldwide wait with bated breath—like the *chatak* bird longing for rain—for the Green Card lottery.
The hellish genocide perpetrated by King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo eclipses even the darkest chapters of fascism. Brussels, the capital of the very nation where the hands of countless people were severed to facilitate rubber extraction, now serves as the headquarters of the European Union—a place that today lectures the world on democratic values.
The ruthless colonial rule imposed by the Dutch in Indonesia and South Asia was, in essence, a form of economic fascism. Yet, the Netherlands is now hailed as one of the happiest and most tolerant nations on earth, attracting thousands of highly educated young people every year. The Netherlands stands as the ultimate testament to how a veneer of civility can coexist seamlessly with a history of brutal cruelty.
A look at Australia reveals how a white supremacist state was built upon the seizure of land from the indigenous Aboriginal people; their racist "White Australia" policy was effectively a form of social fascism. Today, however, Australia is celebrated as a unique hub of multiculturalism, where over 200,000 people gain permanent residency annually. Regardless of political rhetoric, people recognize no greater form of democracy than the promise of a better life.
Turning to South Africa brings to mind the harrowing days of the racist apartheid regime—a modern manifestation of fascism. Although that dark chapter has ended in Nelson Mandela’s homeland, economic inequality persists. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of people from across Africa stream into South Africa daily in search of employment.
Looking at Argentina recalls the horrors of the "Dirty War" waged by Juan Perón and the subsequent military junta, during which thousands of people were forcibly disappeared. Yet, that Latin American nation continues to attract thousands of migrants from neighboring countries every year. Who is unaware of the bloody, authoritarian rule of Chile’s General Augusto Pinochet, a regime under which prisoners were brutally slaughtered inside stadiums? Yet, that very Chile is now recognized as having the most stable and advanced economy in Latin America. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of people from Venezuela and Haiti are flocking there today. While we may verbally condemn dictatorship, we do not hesitate to reap the benefits of the economic framework Pinochet left behind.
Brazil’s history of military dictatorship—a time when political opponents were ruthlessly suppressed—is not so distant either. Yet today, people from all corners of the globe rush to Brazil in search of work and refuge. In reality, across the world, we sit in our living rooms delivering grand speeches against dictatorship while keeping a visa application for such a country in our pockets. Even as we heap scorn upon these dictators and their legacies, at the end of the day, we consider ourselves fortunate to become citizens of the well-governed, disciplined societies they built.
Observing this, I feel compelled to say: We mouth slogans of democracy while setting out for the lands of Hitler and Mussolini, ultimately joining their ranks. That very seat of tyranny now seems sweet; passport in hand, we rush off, washing away all our woes. Let lofty ideals be; I have no hunger in my belly—I head to the land of my forebears in search of peace, brother. We speak of egalitarianism while secretly harboring other desires; a land once the stomping ground of fascists has now become a supreme pilgrimage site for us.
In conclusion, World Democracy Day holds up a mirror to us, clearly revealing this stark internal contradiction. No matter how high we let the balloons of idealism soar in our rhetoric, when standing on the hard ground of reality, people invariably prioritize their own and their family's economic security above all else. Let us celebrate this occasion—marking the eternal conflict between our words and our actions—by acknowledging this historical truth.
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain is an
essayist and an anti-narcotics
campaigner.
