America, as Richard Hofstadter wrote a few years before RFK's death, suffers from periodic waves of paranoia. The historian did not explain why this phenomenon occurs, but he did outline the characteristics of what he termed the "paranoid style" in American politics. In his analysis, Hofstadter sketched out what he considered the salient features of this paranoid style, remarking that “it is the use of...”
The paranoid style in American politics can be seen across the political spectrum, from the extreme fringes to the halls of power. It is characterized by a deep-seated distrust of government institutions, a belief in vast conspiracies, and a sense of victimhood and persecution. This paranoia often leads to irrational beliefs and actions, as individuals and groups become consumed by fear and suspicion.
One of the most infamous examples of the paranoid style in American politics was the McCarthy era, when Senator Joseph McCarthy led a witch hunt for supposed communist sympathizers. This period of intense fear and suspicion resulted in the blacklisting of many innocent individuals and the erosion of civil liberties.
Today, the paranoid style is alive and well in American politics. Conspiracy theories abound, from claims of election fraud to fears of government surveillance. Social media has only exacerbated this phenomenon, allowing misinformation and disinformation to spread like wildfire.
Who got it right? 'It' being: everything. Our current mess. The low information, disinformation, gullibility, and hysteria that are breaking down the fabric of American democracy. The most recent example is the conspiracy theory offered by some supporters of the GOP regarding America's current celebrity power couple: chart...
Sixty years after its publication, it's time to lay Richard Hofstadter's “The Paranoid Style in American Politics” to rest. While his insights were groundbreaking at the time, the world has changed significantly since then, and new forms of political paranoia have emerged.
Abstract. Is there a uniquely Black paranoid style of conservatism, and, if so, how is that style articulated, and what are the potential implications for American politics? The Doppleganger author has smart, cutting insights into the conspiratorial delusions of Naomi Wolf and today's MAGA right.
The opaque nature of international politics exerts limits on the available evidence, yet this cannot mean abandoning the task of judging...
