Global Center-Left Confronts Far-Right Persistence at Toronto Summit

The Global Progress Action Summit in Toronto brought together leading figures from the global center-left to address the persistent rise of far-right politics. The event, described as a "progressive version of CPAC," featured speeches from former US President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, highlighting the urgency of the issue.

Attendees acknowledged that the far right has outmaneuvered liberals in recent years, prompting a shift in strategy. Rather than assuming the far right’s decline, participants focused on adapting to a political landscape where far-right parties remain a dominant alternative.

Key Insights from the Summit:

• Liberals are moving away from the belief that far-right movements are temporary anomalies that will fade over time.
• Center-left parties are redefining success not as eliminating the far right entirely, but as managing and mitigating its influence.
• Canada was highlighted as an exception, with its center-left Liberal Party maintaining power for 11 years despite growing populism in the opposition.

Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress and a conference organizer, emphasized the event’s purpose:

"This is the raison d’être for this work."

Former US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, a rumored 2028 presidential candidate, underscored the need for a new approach. In an interview, he stated:

"It’s clear that Democrats can’t just treat this as some random anomaly or self-correcting problem. Look around the world for evidence of that."

The summit’s location in Toronto was deliberate, as Canada’s political climate contrasts with the far-right trends seen in the US and Europe. However, few attendees proposed replicating Canada’s model, instead focusing on strategies to coexist with the far right rather than eradicate it.