Culture and Society of the English-Speaking World - The United States 2016
2016: A Tumultuous Year
The Context of 2016
Donald Trump's Election: 2016 marked Donald Trump's initial election, succeeding a period of perceived calm and prosperity in the 1990s following Reaganomics.
Reaganomics: While initially promising, Reaganomics had long-term negative consequences, leading to a general feeling of instability.
9/11 and the War on Terror: The attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and Iraq (2003-2011), alongside the broader War on Terror, significantly impacted American society and foreign policy. This marked the first attack on American soil since 1820.
Strained International Relations: The War on Terror created divisions between the U.S. and its allies, particularly regarding the activation of Article 5 of the NATO treaty against a non-state actor (terrorism).
2008 Financial Crisis: The financial crisis of 2008 triggered a severe recession (2007-2009), causing the financial system to collapse and the economy to shrink.
Government Intervention: The government intervened with massive financial measures but avoided increasing taxes on corporations or the wealthy, imposing stricter regulations, or initiating substantial public works projects. This led to a growing national debt.
Broken Social Contract: The perception that the wealthy and corporations were not held accountable for their mistakes resulted in a sense of a broken social contract.
Economic Disparities: The middle class and working class were shrinking, while the upper class prospered, leading to increased income inequality, worse than in the 1890s and 1920s.
Cultural Targets: Instead of addressing the root economic problems, anger was redirected toward cultural issues, such as civil rights, with the false premise that restricting these rights would fix the system.
Phases of Regulation: The cyclical implementation and cancellation of regulations contributed to the instability.
The Reagan Legacy
External Influence
Transformed the U.S. into an uncontested superpower with economic, political, cultural, technological, and ideological dominance. This technological dominance was, in part, fueled by the post-WWII immigration of German scientists to the U.S.
The U.S. evolved into the world's policeman, advocating for democracy, sometimes through interventions such as deposing dictators (e.g., the First Gulf War: 1990–1991).
Prior to the Bush era, the focus was on spreading liberal values, with the expectation that adopting liberal democracy would allow nations to join the U.S.'s network.
Internal Policies
Promoted free-market principles, optimism, and small government.
The Reagan model became dominant, influencing even Democrats to seek mild corrections.
Economic problems were reframed as moral and cultural issues by both conservatives and progressives.
"Culture" (civil rights) overshadowed economics as the primary focus.
The Culture Wars
Included debates over gun ownership, gay rights (marriage and adoption), affirmative action, abortion, euthanasia, recreational drugs, separation of church and state, and women’s rights.
More recent additions include immigration, climate change, environmental protection, trans rights, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), international development, universities, free speech, and international intervention strategies.
Since 1760, birthright citizenship was granted to everyone born in America.
Political Shifts
Democrats: Gradually aligned with the liberal-democratic consensus of "the end of history,", promoting values safeguarded by national and international institutions. They shifted focus from the working class to minorities.
Republicans: Increasingly opposed this consensus, advocating a return to past values and expressing skepticism toward liberal values and institutions. They pivoted away from previously held positions.
The Trump Era: A Shift in Focus
Internal Changes
Trump recognized the abandonment felt by the middle and working classes.
His focus centered on the broken social contract, targeting the liberal world order, Democrats, and demographic groups associated with liberal/Democratic/progressive causes.
He addressed cultural problems rather than economic ones, appealing to a core support base of white, male, working-class, or lower-middle-class individuals.
He redefined "the people" negatively, excluding those with coastal, metropolitan, well-educated backgrounds, and those affiliated with institutions that defend the liberal order, including civil servants and those protected by civil rights acts.
He rejected the "deep state" and its institutions.
Understanding Populism
Definition
Populism involves appealing to and advocating for "the people."
It is based on a dichotomy between "the people" and a corrupt, financially and morally bankrupt elite.
Politics should reflect the values and opinions of the real people, expressed as the "will of the people" or "general will."
The will of the people should override checks and balances and separated powers, with power concentrated in the executive branch through elections.
Characteristics
The definition of "the people" is unclear and determined by antagonism toward the elite and perceived oppression.
Focus on a mythical "heartland" (rural, provincial) and a past where the true people were not suppressed.
In the U.S. context (1960s-2010s), racial tensions are rechanneled into populism, arguing that real Americans are standing against an elite seeking to deprive them of what makes them real Americans.
Paradoxes and Ideologies
Politicians speak on behalf of the people but become the elite once in power, resolved by mobilizing ongoing resistance.
Populism is "thin" with no clear ideas about social change; it combines with other ideologies (left-wing or right-wing).
The point at which right-wing populism turns into fascism is difficult to discern.
The underlying basis is democracy, but the danger is the creation of a "faceless elite."
Historical Examples of Populism in the U.S.
Andrew Jackson (1829–1837)
Founder of the Democratic Party, transitioning the U.S. from a republic to a democracy by extending the franchise to all white men.
Believed in the wisdom of the common man, despite lacking education and political experience.
Turned inexperience into an advantage, challenging the status quo of the Revolutionary generation.
Viewed as either a protector of the common man or an autocratic demagogue.
His actions included questionable behavior, such as his defiance of John Marshall, with the alleged quote “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!”.
Huey Long
A Southern politician from Louisiana who instituted massive social programs as governor.
Advocated for "Share Our Wealth" and criticized the New Deal as insufficiently radical.
Assassinated in 1935, he had ambitions for the 1936 presidential elections.
Remembered either as a champion of the poor or a hypocritical demagogue.
Delivered a 1928 speech emphasizing the lack of schools, roads, and institutions for the sick and disabled.
Charles Lindbergh
Famous for the first flight from NY to Paris and contributions to medicine.
Linked to the Nazi party and endorsed Nazi views on race and eugenics.
Aligned with the America First Committee due to his appreciation for Nazi Germany and anti-Communism.
Spoke for AFC in Des Moines, IA, in 1941, projecting war agitators as dangerous and un-American.
Identified the British, Jewish, and Roosevelt administration as the primary groups pressing the U.S. toward war.
McCarthyism (1950s)
Led by Senator Joe McCarthy, it was a form of populism that identified and hunted an outgroup.
Initiatives to weed out covert Communists from government, armed services, and Hollywood.
Accused the State Department of being infested with communists.
Nowadays, describes witch-hunt tactics and persecution of political opponents.
Backlash due to Army hearings, with journalist Edward Murrow leading the charge.
George Wallace and Barry Goldwater
Practiced backlash populism, which went mainstream through the Southern Strategy by Nixon and Reagan.
Pivoted on racial bigotry to capture Southern audiences and realign the nation around moral issues.
Pitted the real, heartland Americans of the South against an elite by projecting the distinction onto the state vs. the federal government.
Used the Obama election to suggest civil rights had gone too far.
The Republican strategy involved appealing to non-Whites, especially men and the lower-educated, by crafting new messaging.
The Rise of Donald Trump
Background
Born in NY, 1946, into a wealthy real-estate family and entered the family business.
Had trouble with segregationist practices in the 70s.
Dogged by defaults, bankruptcies, and court cases.
Widely regarded as sleazy and a joke, with attempts to project an image as a businessman.
Image Redrawn
The Apprentice (from 2004) portrayed him as a savvy, ruthless, fabulously rich businessman.
Moved into increasing presence on Fox etc. as a talking head.
Moved between political parties, increasingly toward Republicans.
Joined the "birther" movement during Obama's presidency, questioning Obama's American citizenship.
Aligned with conservative causes against illegal immigration, universal health care, and the Iraq War.
2016 Election
Managed a clean sweep of the primary with policy positions including.
Abolishing or renegotiating trade agreements (NAFTA; imposition of tariffs) and alliances (NATO).
Leaving international institutions (WHO, climate change agreements).
Repealing ACA.
Isolationism.
Taking aim against immigration, the Muslim population, and queer people.
Backed by far-right groups.
Victory and Trumpism
Trump surfed on the backlash against the failure of Obama’s platform.
Trumpism is still solidifying.
Lost the popular vote but won the electoral college.
Advantageous for lower-population states in the Midwest: Designed as a compromise with slave states and Claimed to prevent foreign influence.
Reasons for loss (of the Democrats): assassination attempt, apathy amongst young votes, global rise in right-wing politics.
Trump's Presidency
Unconventional Candidate
Considered an outrageously unconventional candidate, with many offensive positions.
Not at all predicted by polls.
First president never to have held elected office or to have served in the military.
Oldest person to have become president (until Biden).
Richest person ever to have become president.
Refusal to release tax records and reliable medical reports.
Unconventional President
Rolled back environmental protections, climate laws.
Tax cuts for higher incomes.
Massively stepped up anti-immigration policies.
Declared support for authoritarian regimes and prevaricated on NATO and EU, indirectly leading to Ukraine conflict.
Appointed 3 Justices to the 9-person Supreme Court, changing the balance.
Impeached twice: 2019 Ukraine plot, 2021 Capitol attack.
2020 Elections
Defeat largely due to covid response, chaotic presidency, and economic downturn due to covid.
Refusal to acknowledge defeat and claims of irregularities and ballot stuffing.
Widely regarded by political scientists and historians as a coup.
January 6th Insurrection
Refusal to accept peaceful transfer of power sparks protests and leads to Jan 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol.
Protest turns insurrection to prevent ratification of electoral votes at a joint session of Congress.
Trump incites violence: Refused to send in National Guard; waits until afternoon to ask for cessation.
Five dead; four officers committed suicide in months after.
No attack on Capitol since 1814.
Republican refusal to impeach or conduct investigation.
Revisionist response: those arrested and jailed (about 650) hailed as hostages and martyrs; pardoned after reelection.
2024 Elections
After 2020, 4-year campaign mode plus lawsuits.
Some lawsuits hampered by slow response from DoJ; some by Trump-appointed judges.
The Democrats’ election to lose.
Catastrophic debate performance for Biden, after rather lacklustre presidency.
Withdraws: first time since LBJ in 1968.
Not quite the glamour Americans want: the Carter problem.
Last-minute launching of Harris campaign; a low-profile VP.
Overall background of inflation: always disastrous for incumbents.
90% of counties swing to Trump. Not just a victory, but a resounding triumph.
For Democrats: to lose once might be regarded as misfortune, to lose twice looks like carelessness.
Motivation for Trump's Win
Partly pro-Trump, but anti-Biden and anti-status quo tips the balance.
Apathy amongst younger votes for lack of progressive programme in Biden, Harris Dem turnout low.
Global rise in right-wing politics.
Events: attempted assassination and rhetoric of divine favour; mugshot elicited interest.
Important Issues
Gains amongst working class: inflation; economy perceived to be bad on a personal level (GDP v distribution).
Fundamental inequality within economic system – worsened by Trump but Democrats did not do enough to reverse it.
Fuels backlash against elite and immigration.
Voters’ issues favour Republicans; Democrats regarded as less good for economy
Gains amongst men; amongst Hispanics and other long-settled immigrants: tend to the right.
Embrace of new technologies to court these voters: podcasts; targeted ads on streaming platforms.
Divisive Rhetoric
Trump seizes the narrative through even harsher rhetoric.
Against immigration, climate change mitigation, abortion, expansion of civil rights, federal interference.
EO on first day: only 2 genders; banning of trans healthcare for minors; leaving Paris Agreement and stepping up oil production; reversal of and adoption of ; banning of paper straws.
EOs: abolishing DoE (states’ rights—going back all the way to desegregation).
Against internal and external perceived opponents: threatens to weaponise judiciary; threatens to leave NATO.
Project 2025: proposes governance by consolidating all power in the executive; conservative policies for example by.
Shuttering of various depts by DOGE, which operates as a para-governmental department.
Understanding Fascism in Relation to Trumpism
Fascism
Due to a conflation of populism and fascism; difficulty due to the conflation of fascism and Nazi ideology.
Fascism is a very thick ideology of social transformation and theory of power.
Trying to define 'fascism' is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. (Kershaw) = hard to define.
Two approaches: The listicle approach and The minimum approach.
An Ideology of Transformation
Includes palingenetic ultranationalism as well as: Demands the destruction of the previous democratic order and its replacement by an authoritarian order.
Myth of decadence and decline.
Need for new leadership and a new elite to remake the nation through purges.
Extends to corporations, societies, all manner of groups of peoplesubjugating individuals to the nation.
Creates a corporate state: private property is retained but the economy serves the state.
Suppression of unions, celebration of autarky = oligarchy (Elon Musk).
Equates popular and national will, and concentrates it in a single leader.
Rejects communism, liberalism, intellectualism, and democratic procedures.
Transformation of the nation and the world by a superior people through conversion and conquest, with violence at its core.
Trumpism
Trumpism is populism with fascist elements.
Includes Disregard of democratic norms as well as Cult of the leader.
Lack of a coherent ideology.
No fully developed authoritarian state structures and Highly distributed power.
Trump
Trump is not a fascist because he does not need to be to bring about change: Illiberal democracy, Hungary-style.
True danger for US may be increasing resistance to Trump, and movement to resistance outside dismantled institutions.
Increasing constitutional crisis: executive overreach.
The Plot Against America
Jewish seen as unamerican, targeted by the populists and others.
reasons for voting for Lindbergh in the book: isolationism, keeping America out of war.
combination of biography with speculative history = what his life could have looked like.
does not lead with any real coherent vision