Lawrence Rosenthal

Explains how Donald Trump won in 2016. Also explains how nationalism is rising in the U. S. and across Europe in regards to the white population.

I found the interesting but, at times, above my experience/knowledge level. I need Populism and Nationalism 101 and this was a college class. It got easier to understand as I got further in the book. Read the notes in the back as you read the book. His documentation is excellent as are the books and articles listed in the notes for further reading. I expect I'll be reading some of them as I seek to expand my knowledge.… (lisätietoja)

Empire of Resentment: Populism's Toxic Embrace of Nationalism by Lawrence Rosenthal is a detailed yet accessible account of the shifting tide of right wing populism in both the United States and internationally.

Rosenthal's stated purpose in this book is to try to make the right wing populist movement more understandable to those not a part of it. In that goal he has succeeded quite well. There is not the over-the-top accusations of some other well-intentioned and, frankly, very accurate accounts. It isn't so much that the same things aren't mentioned here but rather that they are supported and explained so that they come out as results of putting the pieces together. To put another way, they explain what has and is happening (both historically and currently) then draw reasonable and logical conclusions. Those conclusions often resemble the accusations of other writers but here it is supported far better.

I was reading a section that highlights the similarities and differences between fascism (Mussolini) and what we have in the United States right now. Rosenthal shows that Trump is only one step away from being truly fascist as compared to progressing toward fascism, namely a militia to openly use terror and violence to keep opposition both legal and extralegal off balance. While reading this I was also reading reports of armed "Trump supporters" roaming streets and using violence to intimidate and even kill protesters. It would seem, then, that Trump's final piece is just about in place to legitimately be termed fascist.

I would recommend this to anyone in any country that is experiencing this dangerous shift to an extreme nationalism. For those appalled by the movement, this offers a historical and sociological explanation with examples drawn from events as recent as the COVID pandemic. This understanding should help you to better understand what is happening, why, and what may or may not work against it. For those who support the movement to the extreme right I think if you can read this with an open mind you might be better able to understand what you're supporting. You may not change your mind, but if you're only thinking about a couple aspects of the shift in making your decision you may come to see the bigger picture and come away less convinced that the extreme is the best place to be.

My single biggest takeaway, other than gaining a better understanding of what happened, is about what we must do. The left, and even the center, need to do more than just point out the destructive and unethical aspects of Trumpism. Those supporting him already know those things and are comfortable being unethical and immoral if it serves their emotional needs. We must put together policy ideas and programs to battle the foundational issues that drove so many to Trump. And we must do so before a capable authoritarian picks up where Trump will leave off, in some ways Trump's narcissism and ineptitude have capped what he will accomplish in his dismantling of democracy, but the pieces are in place for a more intelligent (which means able to read and synthesize information) person to finish destroying us. This is my takeaway and understanding, not an attempt to restate what Rosenthal says, so don't hold him responsible if you don't like my conclusion.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (lisätietoja)