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Can We Choose Our Politics? — Or Is Everything Determined?
Why You Shouldn’t Blame People for their Politics
In a wonderful article titled, “The rise of American Authoritarianism,” the Vox writer Amanda Taub writes that political scientists have indeed discovered what is driving Donald Trump’s popularity and his ascent into political life from his life-long business ventures.
It is no understatement that Trump seems out of place in the White House especially among his Republican friends who only a few years prior would criticize Obama’s “atheist” tendencies. Indeed, many Republicans used “end of the world” apocalyptic rhetoric because of Obama. Yet, in comparison, Obama is as different from Trump as light is to darkness. They are seemingly juxtapositions, at least from what we know about their public lives.
So what were the conditions that predicted whether someone would vote for Trump?
1. Authoritarian Leanings
Taub writes that Trump’s emergence is not merely about Republicans but about authoritarians. In fact, authoritarians were more likely to vote for Trump. Research suggests that authoritarianism was the primary predictor of support for Trump.
