By now the comparisons of Donald Trump to Adolph Hitler are ubiquitous. Memes with side-by-side comparisons of Trump and Hitler are common, and even I have attempted to use the language of fascism to warn against the ideology Trump represents. His use of scapegoating and the victim mentality, among other aspects, are troubling signs that should be called out. But we are guilty of applying this metaphor too lazily. The risk is that we miss a more appropriate comparison, and one which is a more likely negative course the US could take. Donald Trump and what he represents to his American admirers is more comparable to Vladimir Putin and what he represents to Russians.
I have noticed on Facebook that it is not uncommon to see Trump supporters express admiration for Putin. Indeed, the two men have themselves expressed mutual admiration (though Putin’s compliments toward Trump were more muted). On its face, this seems like an oxymoron. Red-blooded Americans, who want to “Make America Great Again,” get a gleam in their eye when they see the thuggish leader of the former Soviet Union making bellicose statements.
A deeper examination reveals what they have in common. Putin has convinced (and compelled) average Russians to believe the world is a dangerous place and Russia is on its own. The West cannot be trusted – least of all the United States. Amid all this danger, Putin pledges to protect Russia and her citizens. His tough talk and even tougher geopolitical forays have stiffened the backbone of Russia and drawn widespread support. Putin is massively popular in Russia.
But at what cost? In exchange for Putin’s protection, Russians have traded in their civil liberties. Politicians, citizens, and journalists who dare to speak out against Putin wind up missing or dead. Ask Boris Nemtsov, Anna Politkovskaya, and Viktor Yushchenko about the price of Putin’s protection. Ask Syrians who are being bombed by Russia in conjunction with its ally, the Assad regime. Ask Georgians, or Ukrainians.
This is not a place that red-blooded Americans would like to call home. But this same impulse – the desire for a strong leader, even if it costs some personal freedoms – is expressing itself in American politics through Trump’s movement right now.
Studies on Trump’s supporters are no doubt proliferating at this moment, as political scientists and opportunists attempt to understand what makes these people tick. A recent study found the main underlying factor in support for Trump was not education, race, religion, gender or income. It was one’s penchant for authoritarianism.
The study, the only one of its kind I have seen, was done by a researcher at UMass-Amherst. Among a host of possible factors, authoritarianism and fear of terrorism were the only statistically significant variables, with the former being more important. There are a lot of authoritarians in America, and Trump has captured by far the greatest support from them.
“While its causes are still debated, the political behavior of authoritarians is not,” the researcher said. “Authoritarians obey. They rally to and follow strong leaders. And they respond aggressively to outsiders, especially when they feel threatened. From pledging to ‘make America great again’ by building a wall on the border to promising to close mosques and ban Muslims from visiting the United States, Trump is playing directly to authoritarian inclinations.”
It doesn’t matter that Trump has offered shockingly little detail about how he will “make America great again.” His supporters just want him in the White House because they believe a man of his disposition is whom we need at the geopolitical poker table. Trump’s Republican rivals have largely attempted to adopt his authoritarian stance through tough talk and macho posturing, but they aren’t naturals and it isn’t working for them.
It also doesn’t matter that Trump has no understanding of the Bible or the theological language of evangelical Christians. Fundamentalism is rooted in an authoritarian concept of God, who demands obedience, protects his people, and punishes the wicked. I’m grossly oversimplifying, but Trump’s rhetoric naturally resonates with much of the Old Testament mentality. Of course it helps when he panders by saying he would appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn marriage equality. (To be fair, there are huge numbers of Christians who are appalled by Trump and his rhetoric. My sense is that these people tend to identify more with the New Testament and its corresponding values of fairness and compassion.)
This authoritarian paradigm makes even more sense when you use it as a lens to view the criticisms of President Obama. Like their Russian counterparts, these Americans fear a changing world. They perceive it as a scary place, not to be trusted. They perceive Obama as having failed to protect them, and for some, perhaps – as a person of color – even an “alien among us.”
What is shocking to me is not that an egoist like Trump could become a popular candidate. Indeed, the entire design of the presidential campaign plays to the cult of personality. What is more troubling is that so many of my fellow Americans who support Trump in his pursuit to “make America great again” are ready to forsake what has actually made America great. That is the rule of law, the protection for civil liberties even in times of uncertainty, a messy but pluralistic democracy, and a system that promises opportunity to all who are willing to work hard – no matter one’s race, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation, or national origin.
Granted, sometimes America is better at fulfilling those vocations than at other times. But our willingness to continually struggle with those difficult balances is what has truly made America great. The United States is a place where people all over the world still dream of coming to start a new life. With all due respect, who dreams of starting over in Russia?
Americans: We need to get our fear under control and elect someone who is experienced, grounded, and capable of nuanced thinking. Trump is none of those things. America is great, and it’s been made that way by generations of proud people who stay true to American virtues, especially when it’s hard. That’s why we’re America and not Russia. Let’s keep it that way by thinking critically about what Trump is selling us. We can have liberty and security, but not with a guy like Trump.