Patnaik: Economic Justice Key to Resisting Neo-fascism

Economist Prabhat Patnaik has stated that combating the rise of religious nationalism and neo-fascist ideologies requires a strong focus on economic justice. He argued that reducing economic inequality and ensuring basic economic rights for all citizens are essential steps. Patnaik called for policies that bolster the domestic market and increase people's purchasing power, advocating for support for small-scale producers and farmers. He proposed redistributive taxation measures, including wealth and inheritance taxes on the wealthiest segment of the population. Patnaik outlined five fundamental economic rights: food, work, free public healthcare, free education, and social security. He warned that strengthening economic justice is the primary way to resist global trends that threaten democratic values and national sovereignty.

This statement by an economist links economic policies directly to the fight against political extremism, emphasizing social and economic equality.