Critical Theory and Authoritarian Populism / Jeremiah Morelock (editor).

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Morelock, Jeremiah, editor.

Series:

CDSMS (Series)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Authoritarianism--History--20th century.

Authoritarianism.

Totalitarianism--History--20th century.

Totalitarianism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxxvii, 259 pages).

Place of Publication:

London : University of Westminster Press, 2018.

Summary:

After President Trump's election, BREXIT and the widespread rise of far-Right political parties, much public discussion has intensely focused on populism and authoritarianism. In the middle of the twentieth century, members of the early Frankfurt School prolifically studied and theorized fascism and anti-Semitism in Germany and the United States. In this volume, leading European and American scholars apply insights from the early Frankfurt School to present-day authoritarian populism, including the Trump phenomenon and related developments across the globe. Chapters are arranged into three sections exploring different aspects of the topic: theories, historical foundations, and manifestations via social media. Contributions examine the vital political, psychological and anthropological theories of early Frankfurt School thinkers, and how their insights could be applied now amidst the insecurities and confusions of twenty-first century life. The many theorists considered include Adorno, Fromm, Löwenthal and Marcuse, alongside analysis of Austrian Facebook pages and Trump's tweets and operatic media drama. This book is a major contribution towards deeper understanding of populism's resurgence in the age of digital capitalism.

Contents:

Preface to Critical theory and authoritarian populism / Douglas Kellner

Introduction: The Frankfurt School and authoritarian populism: a historical outline / Jeremiah Morelock

Theories of authoritarianism

Frankfurt School critical theory and the persistence of authoritarian populism in the United States / John Abromeit

The persistence of the authoritarian appeal: on critical theory as a framework for studying populist actors in European democracies / Lars Rensmann

Understanding right and left populism / Samir Gandesha

Donald Trump as authoritarian populist: a Frommian analysis / Douglas Kellner

Foundations of authoritarianism

From modernity to bigotry / Stephen Eric Bronner

Opposing authoritarian populism: the challenge and necessity of a new world system / Charles Reitz

Public sphere and world-system: theorizing populism at the margins / Jeremiah Morelock and Felipe Ziotti Narita

Digital authoritarianism

Racism, nationalism and right-wing extremism online: the Austrian presidential election 2016 on Facebook / Christian Fuchs

Authoritarianism, discourse and social media: Trump as the 'American agitator' / Panayota Gounari

Phantasmagoria and the Trump opera / Forrest Muelrath.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.