Many have suggested that Donald Trump and his supporters are authoritarians and that this tells us a great deal about the movement and mood still haunting American politics . But what exactly does this mean? The approach most commonly used in American politics research identifies authoritarians as those who desire order first and foremost. They favor social conformity , adherence to tradition, and uncompromising leaders who promise to keep society safe and secure. The concept is measured by asking survey respondents about the qualities they think are desirable in children: authoritarians are those who favour traits like obedience, good manners, and being well-behaved over independence and curiosity. Using this approach, research has found that authoritarians tended to be strong supporters of Trump through his primary campaign and two Presidential elections, as well as looking favorably on his strongman rhetoric and policies. It’s an interesting theory, but does it … [Read more...] about Is Authoritarianism the Biggest Menace to Democracy?