Resisting Trumpism

I am more and more feeling the truth of the statement that Trump's supporters can be likened to a religious cult. I say this not just because it explains why all rational arguments seem powerless against them. I say it because it explains the tremendous force of his movement. Trump is no mere authoritarian, trying to impose order from above. There is also an immense collective energy from below, which can be likened to how classical fascists relied on mobilizing a popular movement. The movement is important not just because it bolsters Trump's "democratic" credentials and his ability to win elections. It also provides recruits for militias and mobs. He will not need to rely only on the courts, the police and the military to suppress opponents; instead he can leave much of the dirty job of repression and intimidation to his frenzied right-wing supporters, who will gladly troll, harass, stalk, ridicule, physically attack and kill any of his critics. I see an immense danger of violence ahead.

Is the movement from below really so crucial? Isn't the new order taking form in the US today rather that of an oligarchy? Yes, it is an oligarchy - but oligarchies and movements are not incompatible. They both represent forms of power opposed to legality and the constitution. Indeed, precisely because the power of oligarchs cannot be legitimized by reference to the constitution, they are inherently fragile. Often they need to rely on informal ties to the ruler, as can be seen today in the relationship between Musk and Trump. From the perspective of the ruler, this is an ideal arrangement since it gives him the possibility of throwing would-be-competitors among the olgarchs to the wolves if need should arise.

Tocqueville's warning about the "tyranny of the majority" has again become relevant. With a congress reduced to bootlicking and cheer-leading and a supreme court that has already in advance condoned any crime Trump may commit, the system of checks-and-balances is in tatters.

This is perhaps - although I hate to use the word in this connection - a revolutionary moment. Why do I suggest that? Because the power of the Trumpist movement is constituent rather than constituted. Its power gives Trump the extra-legel legitimacy he needs to upset much of the established order. Thanks to it, he no longer needs to rely on legality. Congress and courts can be sidelined. The movement and its Messiah will rule the roost.

Of course, a revolutionary moment does not mean that a new order will be established. It means that established insitutions have lost validity and that fundamental things in politics are up for grabs. The prospects of a return of "how things used to be" are miniscule: if the old lilberal order rested on US economic global hegemony, then it is not likely to survive the end of that hegemony - an end that is fast approaching. But that does not mean that fascism will take its place. The outcome of such moments will be decided by struggle and resistance. Chances still exist. Although weak at the moment, counter-movements will grow. Rifts will appear within the Trumpist leadership. And with time, disillusionment and fatique will weaken his movement. Unfortunately, a weakened Trumpist movement may become even more violent than toay. Movement setbacks and radicalization often go hand in hand. In any case, the "tyranny of the majority" with which Trumpism is at the moment confronting its opposnents will fall apart. That much can be said with absolute certainty.