The Profile of Rising Authoritarianism in the United States

• In Event: Social Inequality and the Threats to Democracy

Abstract

Neoliberalism has become the dominant mode of political-economic organization in the United States over the last-half century, and is associated with the emergence of record income and wealth inequality. Simultaneously, American politics has experienced "creeping fascism," via the rise of public and political support for white identity politics, xenophobia, violence against (perceived) domestic political enemies, and an assault on the rule of law and checks and balances. I incorporate Henry Giroux's emphasis on an emerging "neoliberal fascism" in the United States, as related to the growing overlap between neoliberal policies that exacerbate inequality on the one hand, and support for xenophobia,political violence, and authoritarian politics among Trump's supporters on the other. More specifically, this paper documents the rise of neoliberal fascism among the American public, drawing on survey data from the Pew Research Center from 2016 through 2018, and documenting the significant links between neoliberal, authoritarian-fascist values among those who express approval of Trump.

Author

• Anthony R. DiMaggio, Lehigh University