Why Wealthy Nations Are Turning Inward

In the 1990s, globalisation promised open borders, shared prosperity, and the “end of history.” But in some of the world’s richest and most stable democracies, a new political force emerged instead: neo-nationalism.From the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation in Australia to the populist movements reshaping Europe, this episode explores why affluent societies feel under siege. We unpack the idea of economic chauvinism, the “populist sandwich” strategy, and how modern nationalist leaders operate inside democracy — not outside it.Is this just racism in a new suit, or a deeper anxiety about globalisation, identity, and belonging? And what happens when mainstream parties start copying the rhetoric they once condemned?