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Sir Salman Rushdie says we live in an age of “offendedness” and “outrage identity” warning society faces the “old enemy of authoritarianism”.<\/p>\n
The author was discussing\u00a0the rise in anti-democratic political movements. Sir Salman, 76, who was stabbed repeatedly last year as he prepared to give a talk in New York, spoke of the need to protect freedom of speech.<\/p>\n
Appearing by video during the National Constitution Centre\u2019s First Amendment Summit, the Booker-Prize winner said: \u201cI think there\u2019s a real rise in authoritarian movements around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cPopulist authoritarian demagoguery and coupled with that a willingness amongst, at least some parts of the population to cease to value the democratic values enshrined in the first amendment.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Thousands of migrants cross into Arizona in a day as ‘cartels control’ border<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSo I think the problem is, I would now say, political more than primarily religious.\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Salman spoke further on America\u2019s tendency towards authoritarianism and said: \u201cI find it (attitudes in America) bewildering, and I think it has to do with two kinds of attack that have been unleashed. Not unsuccessfully in recent years. One is on the idea of education itself.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that the other attack has been on the truth and said: \u201cOne of the preconditions for the rise of authoritarian strongmen is that people cease to believe in the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are told so often that what everything they\u2019ve been told is a lie that they begin to internalise that, and at that point, the demagogue, the authoritarians can rise to speak and can say, \u2018I am the truth. Believe me, because I am the truth.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how dictatorships start. That\u2019s how tyrannies rise and we\u2019re seeing phenomenon like that in this country, but around the world as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThose two attacks on the value of education and on the absolute value of the truth. Unfortunately, have been to some degree successful.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4960804.jpg?r=1694745874041\")
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