PSPS Week One Trump Article Notes

• The document analyzes the evolution and characteristics of American populism, focusing on Donald Trump's 2016 campaign as a contemporary example of racial-nationalist populism.

Populist Traditions

• The document distinguishes two main American populist traditions: civic nationalism focused on class and racial nationalism centered on ethnicity and exclusion.

• Civic Nationalism: Civic nationalism defines 'the people' by class and democratic values, emphasizing equality and opposing corporate elites.

• Racial Nationalism: Racial nationalism restricts 'the people' to white Americans, promoting ethnically exclusive and xenophobic policies.

• Historical Populist Movements: Historical populist movements like the People's Party and the Workingmen's Party illustrate the two populist traditions in action.

Populism’s Political Impact:

Progressive Reforms: Populist movements like the People's Party contributed to progressive reforms such as income tax and labor protections.

Racial Exclusion Laws: Racial-nationalist populists influenced exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act and immigration quotas.

• The Klu Klux Klan is referenced as a historical example of racial-nationalist populism that sought to maintain white supremacy and influence U.S. politics in the 1920s.

• Its legacy serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of populism when intertwined with racism and xenophobia.

Trump’s Populism:

• Anti-Immigration Rhetoric - campaign focused heavily on anti-immigration messages targeting Mexicans and Muslims as threats to American society. (turning them into the threat)

• White Working-Class Appeal - Trump tapped into the economic and cultural anxieties of the white working and middle class to build his political base.

• Populist Campaign Style - Trump's campaign style included harsh attacks on elites and minorities, using nicknames and divisive language.