Donald J. Trump and the Politics of Mass Society

Albert P. Melone

doi:10.5771/9781666942095

Donald J. Trump and the Politics of Mass Society

1. Edition 2024

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doi.org/10.5771/9781666942095
ISBN print: 978-1-66694-208-8
ISBN online: 978-1-6669-4209-5
Lexington, Lanham Lexington, Lanham

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Abstract

In Donald J. Trump and the Politics of Mass Society, Albert P. Melone studies Trump’s behavioral patterns in the fourth year of his presidential term and the three tumultuous years leading to the 2024 presidential election. Melone analyzes the leading explanatory paradigm of American government and politics by utilizing the democratic and aristocratic criticisms of mass society theory to better describe and explain the behavior of Donald Trump and his followers. The initial chapters outline the theoretical framework, the mass movement characteristics, and its membership’s cult-like behavior. Two significant events of the last year of Trump’s administration— the pandemic and the politics surrounding the Black Lives Matter demonstrations— illustrate Trump’s leadership style and the behavioral patterns of the MAGA mass movement. The 2020 election and the attempt to reverse its outcome is a central topic throughout the text, including a discussion of Trump’s second impeachment, the efforts of the House Select Committee on January 6th, voter reactions in the 2022 midterm elections, and the various political and legal attempts to make Trump accountable for his role in the so-called insurrection at the nation’s Capitol. In the final chapter, Melone critically analyzes alternative prescriptions to right the ship of state with a steely eye focused on the realities and possibilities to salvage the democratic republic from an autocratic future.

Schlagworte

mass movements mass society political culture political violence presidential politics American pluralism Donald Trump democratic theory elections civil war

Chapter Expand | CollapsePage
Preface
- Contents
- Figures and Table
- Acknowledgments
1–8 Introduction 1–8
9–32 Theoretical Perspective 9–32
33–54 Mass Movements and the True Believers 33–54
55–76 Pandemic Debacle 55–76
77–90 Black Lives Matter 77–90
91–102 Presidential Election 2020 91–102
103–124 Campaign to Reverse Election Outcome 103–124
125–140 A Second Impeachment 125–140
141–156 Political Fallout 141–156
157–192 January 6th Committee 157–192
193–214 Message Delivered 193–214
215–232 Voter Attitudes, Demographics, and 2022 Midterm Elections 215–232
233–252 Candidate Endorsements and Running Again 233–252
253–270 Accountability 253–270
271–288 The Long Arm of the Law and Public Opinion 271–288
289–306 Political Culture Tested 289–306
307–312 Bibliography 307–312
313–328 Index 313–328
329–330 About the Author 329–330

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