Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

marmar

(76,982 posts)
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 11:15 AM Mar 2016

Trump's Popularity and the Rise of Authoritarian Capitalism


Trump's Popularity and the Rise of Authoritarian Capitalism

Wednesday, 23 March 2016 00:00
By Jamil Khader, Truthout | News Analysis


The rise of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is a clear symptom of the catastrophic normalization of authoritarian capitalism around the world. Many recent debates about his popularity, however, have missed this point: They are being framed in post-ideological terms that obscure the relation between Trump's rise and the deepening contradictions of the global capitalist system.

In its recent worldwide restructuring process, global capitalism has forcefully embraced authoritarian values that promise to sustain capitalist growth. This results in disastrous consequences to personal freedoms and economic security and justice for large unemployable segments of the population. Trump's brand of populist, protectionist and isolationist economic policies resonate with the current sharpening of the contradictions of the hegemonic global capitalist system, revealing how US neoliberal capitalism is in imminent danger of a transformation into authoritarian capitalism.

Trump's objection to outsourcing, rejection of free trade treaties and his call for more government economic intervention are all symptoms of the fact that neoliberal economic policies and the democratic values associated with them can no longer drive capitalist growth. As a result, the crisis of global capitalism today is driving nations worldwide toward new forms of politico-economic organization -- namely authoritarian capitalism.

Many critics have lashed out against Trump's fascist rhetoric, coded Nazi gestures and incitement to violence, but in truth these are merely the tip of the iceberg.

The Authoritarianism Debate

In a recent national study that received wide attention, political researcher Matthew MacWilliams concluded that the strongest measure of voters' support for Trump in the South Carolina Republican primary was their authoritarian attitudes. He identified various common behaviors to which these voters seem to be disposed: They enforce conformity and stability, have zero tolerance for deviance, maintain social norms, scapegoat the Other, obey aggressive and violent leaders and fear the threat of terrorism. MacWilliams thus warns that such attitudes usher in "America's Authoritarian Spring" and serve as a clear indication that "rising authoritarian attitudes [are] playing a newly significant role in American politics." .................(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35331-trump-s-popularity-and-the-rise-of-authoritarian-capitalism




1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump's Popularity and the Rise of Authoritarian Capitalism (Original Post) marmar Mar 2016 OP
K&R!!! 2naSalit Mar 2016 #1
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»Trump's Popularity and th...