Can Trumpism survive without Trump. The tenets of Trumpism are identical to the basic tenets of the Republican Party. Trump has just managed to move all of those once whispered core beliefs into the "open" by both word and deed.
As to the latter, here’s what seems to me to be Trumpism’s most salient characteristics:
*Open white supremacy
*Open nativism
*Open misogyny
*Open contempt for experts, intellectuals, universities, etc.
*Open embrace of reactionary Christianity as the informal state religion
*Open hatred of independent journalism
*Open authoritarianism
The fundamental difference between these core Republican beliefs and Trumpism is one single factor. Today's Republican Party has become:
*A cult of personality organized around a celebrity
The Republicans haven't thrown up many politicians who could be considered celebrities. Trump was able to leverage his celebrity, mostly gained by pretending to be a successful businessman on reality TV, and take over the Republican Party by simply saying out loud what the Republican base always believed Trump is an asshole, who ticks all the Republicans boxes in a way that excites a broad swath of the Republican base. He gives them permission to be right wing racist assholes, amplifying all of their prejudices and grievances while freeing the boldest of them to act upon them.
Fascist states don't survive the death of their leader. Germany and Italy were defeated by outside military forces, who reestablished democratic governments. Franco's passing in Spain resulted in the return of political power to a long established monarchy, which ultimately lead to a constitutional state. Trump will survive his electoral defeat. But, Trumpism is likely to survive with him as long as the Republican base can be convinced that Trump was "cheated" out reelection.
No comments:
Post a Comment