Polish political scientist Anna Siewierska claims that leaders manipulate public fear of war and migrants, urging a shift to better communication and education.
Fear as Personal Therapy
In writing her book *Polityka strachu* (“Policy of Fear”), Siewierska says the process itself acted as therapy. She recalls a moment on a plane where a Muslim man asked her to watch his bag, which triggered a sudden personal fear. The incident prompted her to realise that this fear was not tied to real life experiences but to a subconscious pattern associating appearance with danger.
Migrant Scapegoat and Cultural Anxiety
She argues that politicians desire a population that fears the ‘foreign’. The fear of the unknown is described as a primitive, instinctive one. Siewierska points out that Christian civilisation does not preach fear of strangers but of neighbourly concern, yet right‑wing populists distance themselves from this ethos. Such rhetoric, she explains, often carries racial undertones.
Political Fear‑Mongering Strategies
The author lists three common tactics. First, diverting attention from tangible economic and health problems by emphasizing looming migration threats, thereby preventing demands for systemic reforms. Second, labeling opposing politicians as naïve or ignorant, undermining their credibility. Third, uniting a sympathetic community under a shared fear to legitimize a leader’s perceived protection.
Education and Community as Countermeasures
According to Siewierska, fear can be transformed into constructive action if people feel empowered. She cites practical steps: workplace safety drills, ministries publishing evacuation guidelines, and school visits by specialists who teach children how to manage anxiety. She also notes that governments might use the threat of a hybrid war with Russia to justify increased security spending, but that public trust can be built by demonstrating clear defensive success.
Historical Leaders Who Avoided Fear
Siewierska cites Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama as examples of leaders who relied on hope and moral persuasion instead of fear. She argues that societies still need a more effective governmental communication strategy to replace fear‑based narratives with hope‑based policies.
