Rightg Wing Authoritarianism:Morbid Sypmptom of Today

• In Event: 20861 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 13: Right-wing and Conservative Movements

Abstract

Many scholars and activists on the left, indeed, many people that tend to be liberals and /or moderates, ask how it is possible for a people to vote for a narcissistic, authoritarian, convicted criminal, rapist, liar, and fraudster that becomes elected as President of the United States. Twice! But I will instead ask what are the larger social if not global conditions of our times that have led to a groundswell of reactionary populism’s that so many people hold such extremist views as to support various reactionary ideologies, join or support the movements leaders and/or often vote for a variety of reactionary leaders. This is neither a new nor rare phenomenon. Marx (1852) gave us some hints in his analysis of the coup of Louis Bonaparte in 18525which a ne’er-do-well, a “grotesque monstrosity could play the hero” and not only take over the French government but establish the Second Empire, that sustained its power corruption, cronyism, and a network of secret police. Marx called system “Bonapartism” that can be seen as prefiguring 20th century fascism and 21st C right wing populisms. Capitalist crises, especially at moments of transition, from om one era to another, reflecting dialectical contradictions that need to be overcome, periods that Gramsci saw as an interregnum, the times when which the old is dying but the new has not yet been born. Such moments share one common feature, the eruption of morbid symptoms from the disruptions of the tranquility of everyday life to growing violence of many kinds. This include growing political polarization and animosity between political parties or factions, reactionary governments that reject democratic process and repudiate established constitutional rules that regulate the actions of leaders, that sacralize and indeed commit acts of violence toward “enemies” can be considered morbid symptoms.

Authors

• Lauren Langman, Loyola University-Chicago

• Jeremiah Morelock, Boston College