When Too Much Right is Wrong.

I was watching The Dark Knight with my kid the other night on Netflix. My 13-year-old got totally engrossed in the epic battle between Batman and the Joker. But as the story unfolded, I couldn’t help but think (in the backdrop of BJP’s sweeping victory in Delhi elections after 24 years): Is this movie, in some weird way, about the rise of the right in politics?

The character of Harvey Dent in the movie is a perfect example. He starts off as the “White Knight” of Gotham, representing justice and order, much like what we see in societies that lean towards left-wing ideals—social justice, equality, and fairness. But, as his character unravels, it’s clear he’s not as infallible as he seemed. His descent into chaos, after the Joker pushes him past his breaking point, is like a metaphor for how ideologies can get twisted when they push too far. There’s always a breaking point, a moment when something radical takes over. And suddenly, Dent—the good guy—becomes the villain.

This descent into chaos got me thinking about the rise of right-wing politics across the world today. It feels like, in a way, the world is reacting to the perceived excesses of the left, just like Gotham did to Dent’s idealism. Take India for example, where Narendra Modi’s rise to power is a perfect illustration of how strong leadership, sometimes bordering on the extreme, can appeal to a nation in crisis. Modi, much like Dent, was initially seen as a reformer, someone who could bring change to the country’s stagnating political and economic landscape filled with scams and inefficiencies. He promised stability, growth, and a sense of national pride.

But, just like the transformation of Harvey Dent, there has been a shift in Modi’s leadership over time. Initially, he portrayed himself as a man of the people (sab ka saat, sab ka vikas), promising to unite India under his vision of development. Yet, as the years passed, his policies became more divisive. The push for Hindu nationalism, the marginalisation of minorities, and the handling of issues like Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have made many see Modi’s rule as leaning toward authoritarianism. Just as Dent’s idealism gave way to vengeful chaos, Modi’s leadership has started to polarise India, creating divisions that may be hard to undo.

The situation in Brazil under Jair Bolsonaro follows a similar trajectory. Bolsonaro was seen as a “saviour” who would fix the country’s growing crime problem and economic instability. His hardline approach and populist rhetoric resonated with many Brazilians. However, much like the “White Knight” gone wrong in The Dark Knight, Bolsonaro’s leadership revealed the dangers of extreme right-wing politics. It’s the same principle: the promise of stability often leads to deeper fractures in society.

Then, of course, there’s the U.S. With Donald Trump’s presidency, we see something similar. Trump positioned himself as a disruptor—a man who could fix what was broken by taking a no-nonsense, “strongman” approach. He was the dark side of Batman—someone who ignored the rules, broke the system, but gave people a sense of power and control in return. The appeal of his leadership during his campaign and presidency was rooted in the same fears and anxieties that fuelled Modi and Bolsonaro—fear of the unknown, fear of change, and a desire for someone who promised to take charge, no matter the cost.

But here’s the thing that struck me during the movie. The Joker’s chaos isn’t sustainable, and neither is Dent’s path toward “pure” justice. The extreme right, much like extreme ideologies in general, might promise to fix everything, but in reality, it leads to more division and instability. The Joker knew this—he wasn’t interested in ruling Gotham, he just wanted to watch it burn. In a way, the rise of the right sometimes feels like this too—promising stability but delivering more chaos in the end.

So, what’s the takeaway? The pendulum always swings. Just like Gotham eventually needs a hero who understands that order must be balanced with chaos, our societies will eventually find that a balance between right and left is the only way to move forward. As countries like India with Narendra Modi, the Philippines under Duterte, and the U.S. under Trump have shown, extreme right-wing politics can have a strong appeal during times of fear and uncertainty. But these strongman figures—like Batman himself—ultimately have to wrestle with the question of what’s right and what’s wrong.

The truth is, The Dark Knight isn’t just about good versus evil. It’s about the grey areas in between, the tension between order and chaos, right and left. Just as Gotham has to reckon with the consequences of Dent’s fall, so too will the world eventually need to come to terms with the rise of the right. The key will be finding that balance, that equilibrium, where the system works for everyone—without tipping too far into the extreme. Until then, we’ll keep swinging between chaos and order, just like the pendulum of politics.