
Why Irrational Politics Appeals
Understanding the Allure of Trump
Mari Fitzduff(Editor)
Praeger Publishers Inc
Published on 13. February 2017
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-1-4408-5514-6 (ISBN)
Description
The 2016 election has inspired millions of U.S. citizens-and struck panic in the hearts of millions more. This book explains the allure of Trump, examines how Trump's success ties into the hopes and fears of many Americans, and calls into question the limitations of our democratic system.
Across the United States and around the world, people are struggling to understand why so many turned to Donald Trump-an individual described as rude and insensitive at best, and as racist, hateful, and ignorant at worst-as their champion. Trump's nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, and his subsequent election to president of the United States, upended many long-held assumptions and beliefs about politics, such as the inevitable power of superfunding election syndicates and the need for presidential candidates to have governance experience and broad knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs.
Why Irrational Politics Appeals: Understanding the Allure of Trump takes a serious, scientific look at Trump and his politics against the backdrop of modern American society. It brings together experts from a variety of psychological and political science fields to answer the mystifying question of why people by the millions would follow a leader who to so many others seems unqualified, undiplomatic, and in opposition to previously established standards for a national leader.
Readers will gain an understanding of how little a role rationality plays in political choices, particularly-but not always-among citizens of certain socioeconomic backgrounds; and why Trump's apparently divisive attitudes and prejudices, his lack of "political correctness," and his hubris appeal to so many voters. The book also raises questions about our democratic processes, and our need for more thoughtful political cultures to ensure that citizens are adequately prepared to make important leadership decisions that will affect the future of our nation's economy, social norms, and global safety.
Across the United States and around the world, people are struggling to understand why so many turned to Donald Trump-an individual described as rude and insensitive at best, and as racist, hateful, and ignorant at worst-as their champion. Trump's nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, and his subsequent election to president of the United States, upended many long-held assumptions and beliefs about politics, such as the inevitable power of superfunding election syndicates and the need for presidential candidates to have governance experience and broad knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs.
Why Irrational Politics Appeals: Understanding the Allure of Trump takes a serious, scientific look at Trump and his politics against the backdrop of modern American society. It brings together experts from a variety of psychological and political science fields to answer the mystifying question of why people by the millions would follow a leader who to so many others seems unqualified, undiplomatic, and in opposition to previously established standards for a national leader.
Readers will gain an understanding of how little a role rationality plays in political choices, particularly-but not always-among citizens of certain socioeconomic backgrounds; and why Trump's apparently divisive attitudes and prejudices, his lack of "political correctness," and his hubris appeal to so many voters. The book also raises questions about our democratic processes, and our need for more thoughtful political cultures to ensure that citizens are adequately prepared to make important leadership decisions that will affect the future of our nation's economy, social norms, and global safety.
Reviews / Votes
Each essay plumbs the methods humans use to select leaders. This collection is heavy on the psychology of leadership selection. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-5514-6 (9781440855146)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2017
1st Edition
Praeger Publishers Inc
€33.49
Available for download

E-Book
02/2017
1st Edition
Praeger Publishers Inc
€33.49
Available for download
Person
Mari Fitzduff is the founding director of the international Master of Arts Programs in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence at the Heller School at Brandeis University.
Content
Chapter 1 Introduction: All Too Human: The Allure of Donald Trump
Mari Fitzduff
Chapter 2 The Politics of Hope: Donald Trump as an Entrepreneur of Identity
Stephen Reicher and S. Alexander Haslam
Chapter 3 Unexamined Assumptions about Leadership: Why People Follow Trump
Mark R. Leary
Chapter 4 Leadership and Followership: Trump-An Adaptive Mismatch?
Micha Popper
Chapter 5 Power, Persuasion, and Bad Leadership
Ronald E. Riggio
Chapter 6 Nationalist Politics: The Role of Predispositions and Emotions
Michael C. Grillo
Chapter 7 Trump: An Antiestablishment Hero?
Gregg Henriques
Chapter 8 Intolerant and Afraid: Authoritarians Rise to Trump's Call
Matthew C. MacWilliams
Chapter 9 Death: The Trump Card
Florette Cohen, Sharlynn Thompson, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon
Chapter 10 Insulter Trump: A Bonus for His Followers?
Karina V. Korostelina
Chapter 11 Tweeting Morals in the 2016 Election
J. P. Prims, Zachary J. Melton, and Matt Motyl
Chapter 12 Dramatic Rationalities: Electoral Theater in the Age of Trump
Mark Chou and Michael L. Ondaatje
Chapter 13 Mindfulness: A Tool for Thoughtful Politics
Christopher S. Reina
Afterword
Mari Fitzduff
Index
About the Editor and Contributors
Mari Fitzduff
Chapter 2 The Politics of Hope: Donald Trump as an Entrepreneur of Identity
Stephen Reicher and S. Alexander Haslam
Chapter 3 Unexamined Assumptions about Leadership: Why People Follow Trump
Mark R. Leary
Chapter 4 Leadership and Followership: Trump-An Adaptive Mismatch?
Micha Popper
Chapter 5 Power, Persuasion, and Bad Leadership
Ronald E. Riggio
Chapter 6 Nationalist Politics: The Role of Predispositions and Emotions
Michael C. Grillo
Chapter 7 Trump: An Antiestablishment Hero?
Gregg Henriques
Chapter 8 Intolerant and Afraid: Authoritarians Rise to Trump's Call
Matthew C. MacWilliams
Chapter 9 Death: The Trump Card
Florette Cohen, Sharlynn Thompson, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon
Chapter 10 Insulter Trump: A Bonus for His Followers?
Karina V. Korostelina
Chapter 11 Tweeting Morals in the 2016 Election
J. P. Prims, Zachary J. Melton, and Matt Motyl
Chapter 12 Dramatic Rationalities: Electoral Theater in the Age of Trump
Mark Chou and Michael L. Ondaatje
Chapter 13 Mindfulness: A Tool for Thoughtful Politics
Christopher S. Reina
Afterword
Mari Fitzduff
Index
About the Editor and Contributors