Excellent historical context, we've had Trump types for a long time... And we should remember that France was actually ruled by French fascists in the Vichy years. When I visited in the 60s I got a Vichy franc coin in change one time. In place of the classic "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" it read "Work, Family, Fatherland" (Travaille, Famille, Patrie). It chilled me then and still does.
"we've had Trump types for a *long* time" [added emphasis]
i feel the comparative reach for historic fascism is approaching exhaustion and its time to turn to the classics for fruitful reference, situating trumpocene leaders in the tradition of ancient imperial city-state autocrats like sulla and alcibiades
I'd be all ears to learn about those reference points. But I think there is still much to be gleaned from US history itself, as a nation-state that has always harbored something akin to a nationalist-populism (Jacksonian through neo-confederate) that co-exists with, but has not managed to permanently defeat, the liberal democratic energies.
I think that history is relevant globally, because the post-Reconstruction order that the US pioneered during 1900-1960 was an openly claimed resource for those states looking to uphold white Euro governance that could plausibly pass themselves off as governed by "the people" even when the citizenry is multi-racial and multi-ethnic.
Many rightwingers in Europe closely studied the legal and social infrastructure of Jim Crow and US immigration policy. Now the US rightwing is in turn borrowing from European models.
I would tack on an addendum to that comparison - if the audience for the old, French style of 'national populism' was disaffected 'artisans and tradespeople', then give or take a few opportunistic union bosses, the audience for Trumpism is quite different:
- regional landed gentry protecting their fiefdoms by banding together at the national level
- old cultural warriors and fringe players with new leases on life
- aspiring 'entrepreneurs' and 'influencers' hoping to get one over on everyone else
- and now, the unimaginably wealthy sect of tech and finance barons who have already succeeded
in getting one over on everybody else, but feel like it still isn't enough
This is where the blurry lines of national populism and straight-ahead fascism meet, maybe - and yes, I think the latter term is still a relevant descriptor; that enough voters weren't deterred by the accusation does not mean that it is not accurate
"Assertion pure and simple, disconnected from all reasoning and all proof, represents a sure means for instilling an idea in the popular mind." ... a "killer app" for the internet, alas.
I still think berlusconi is perhaps an equally important forerunner for the present historical moment. Really a combination of him and Le Pen. Much in the same way your book suggests trump is the combination of several strains visible in the early 90s but not yet joined together.
Excellent as always John. I very much agree that an examination of ‘Republican’ movements such as Le Pen etc; in France sheds light on trumpism and its ilk elsewhere. While it’s true that the US has its own tradition of such scoundrels, they have usually been more ‘regionally’ based. Its emergence as a national popular movement makes trumpism something new in the US. Huey Long springs to mind as its regional version.
Just ordered it. Did you know that the book has only 66 copies reserved for Australia of which only four are on ‘order’, and that it will take about 14-16 weeks to arrive? You might want to speak to your publishers about this and also a publicist here. I’m sure you could see more sales here than that if you could get some local publicity. Cheers
No, it’s not published in Australia. My point is that it has to be imported, and there is a waiting time of 14-16 weeks. Talk about supply chain issues. What’s going on?
I’m sure I would! I’m going to look for it in my favourite Sydney bookshop today! I hate kindle. Once again, well done. You are the only US commentator I pay any serious attention to.
Nearly all small-d democratic pols are in it not to make a better world but for personal track records. (Don’t go by what they say but by what they’ve done.)
And in a world where pardon the exception parasitic capitalists call the shots, of course anti-democratic far right parties do well.
Excellent historical context, we've had Trump types for a long time... And we should remember that France was actually ruled by French fascists in the Vichy years. When I visited in the 60s I got a Vichy franc coin in change one time. In place of the classic "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" it read "Work, Family, Fatherland" (Travaille, Famille, Patrie). It chilled me then and still does.
I got one of those coins too when I visited France. Instead of République Française, it was issued by L’Etat Français. Very sad.
"we've had Trump types for a *long* time" [added emphasis]
i feel the comparative reach for historic fascism is approaching exhaustion and its time to turn to the classics for fruitful reference, situating trumpocene leaders in the tradition of ancient imperial city-state autocrats like sulla and alcibiades
I'd be all ears to learn about those reference points. But I think there is still much to be gleaned from US history itself, as a nation-state that has always harbored something akin to a nationalist-populism (Jacksonian through neo-confederate) that co-exists with, but has not managed to permanently defeat, the liberal democratic energies.
I think that history is relevant globally, because the post-Reconstruction order that the US pioneered during 1900-1960 was an openly claimed resource for those states looking to uphold white Euro governance that could plausibly pass themselves off as governed by "the people" even when the citizenry is multi-racial and multi-ethnic.
Many rightwingers in Europe closely studied the legal and social infrastructure of Jim Crow and US immigration policy. Now the US rightwing is in turn borrowing from European models.
All that is solid melts into air, and while Marx may be right that this is necessary for the bourgeoisie, they certainly seem to hate it.
Interesting! In part because Marx attributed this incessant change to the bourgeoisie itself.
I would tack on an addendum to that comparison - if the audience for the old, French style of 'national populism' was disaffected 'artisans and tradespeople', then give or take a few opportunistic union bosses, the audience for Trumpism is quite different:
- regional landed gentry protecting their fiefdoms by banding together at the national level
- old cultural warriors and fringe players with new leases on life
- aspiring 'entrepreneurs' and 'influencers' hoping to get one over on everyone else
- and now, the unimaginably wealthy sect of tech and finance barons who have already succeeded
in getting one over on everybody else, but feel like it still isn't enough
This is where the blurry lines of national populism and straight-ahead fascism meet, maybe - and yes, I think the latter term is still a relevant descriptor; that enough voters weren't deterred by the accusation does not mean that it is not accurate
"Assertion pure and simple, disconnected from all reasoning and all proof, represents a sure means for instilling an idea in the popular mind." ... a "killer app" for the internet, alas.
I still think berlusconi is perhaps an equally important forerunner for the present historical moment. Really a combination of him and Le Pen. Much in the same way your book suggests trump is the combination of several strains visible in the early 90s but not yet joined together.
Excellent as always John. I very much agree that an examination of ‘Republican’ movements such as Le Pen etc; in France sheds light on trumpism and its ilk elsewhere. While it’s true that the US has its own tradition of such scoundrels, they have usually been more ‘regionally’ based. Its emergence as a national popular movement makes trumpism something new in the US. Huey Long springs to mind as its regional version.
You might enjoy my book!
Just ordered it. Did you know that the book has only 66 copies reserved for Australia of which only four are on ‘order’, and that it will take about 14-16 weeks to arrive? You might want to speak to your publishers about this and also a publicist here. I’m sure you could see more sales here than that if you could get some local publicity. Cheers
Well I think it is not published in Australia but I will speak to them about it!
No, it’s not published in Australia. My point is that it has to be imported, and there is a waiting time of 14-16 weeks. Talk about supply chain issues. What’s going on?
I am just a writer!
Okay. No problems. But your publisher or distributor should be keeping up with distribution issues, No?
I’m sure I would! I’m going to look for it in my favourite Sydney bookshop today! I hate kindle. Once again, well done. You are the only US commentator I pay any serious attention to.
Nearly all small-d democratic pols are in it not to make a better world but for personal track records. (Don’t go by what they say but by what they’ve done.)
And in a world where pardon the exception parasitic capitalists call the shots, of course anti-democratic far right parties do well.