Talk:Demagogue

Sources

Here are some serious, reliable sources about demagogy/demagogues. I haven't checked them all closely, but I'm listing them because they appear to be scholarly research, not name-calling by opponents. Please add more such sources to this section as you find them. They'll help other editors looking for good material to summarize. —Ben Kovitz (talk) 15:47, 13 June 2012 (UTC)

Demagogues in general

Michael Signer. Demagogue: The Fight to Save Democracy from its Worst Enemies. Palgrave Macmillan (2009).

Modern and thorough. Takes care with definition. Details famous demagogues from history. Explains demagoguery as an inherent weakness of democracy (the traditional view), and proposes an explanation of why the United States has never faced a serious threat from a national-level demagogue. Explains why Bush was not a demagogue, regardless of one's opinion of him as a leader.

Ceaser, James W. (2011). "Demagoguery, Statesmanship, and Presidential Politics". Designing a Polity: America's Constitution in Theory and Practice. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 75–118. ISBN 1442207906.

Scholarly, covers history back to Athens, with emphasis on the U.S. Defines and classifies demagogues.

James Fenimore Cooper. "On Demagogues." (1838).

Careful, four-part definition of "demagogue". Documents the term's ancient origin and its extension in modern times. Still pretty authoritative.

Thoms Streissguth. Hatemongers and Demagogues. The Oliver Press, Inc. (1995).

Eight examples from history: Samuel Parris (witch-hunter), Lyman Beecher (Puritan), Thomas Watson (Populist), William Simmons (KKK), Father Coughlin, Joseph McCarthy, George Lincoln Rockwell (American Nazi), Louis Farrakhan.

Aristotle. Politics.

Ancient survey of democracy and demagogues.

Reinhard Henry Luthin. American Demagogues: Twentieth Century. P. Smith (1959).

Not freely available, but widely cited. Includes Joe McCarthy.

Polybius's Histories and people's commentaries on them: Google Books search

Something in here ought to be thorough.

Basil Montagu. "The Patriot and the Demagogue" (1837).

Not sure if we need to cite it, but certainly we should offer a link to it. It's probably got something quotable, and it mentions some demagogues who might be of interest to describe in the article.

J. Justin Gustainis. "Demagoguery and Political Rhetoric: A Review of the Literature," Rhetoric Society Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Spring, 1990), pp. 155–161.

A survey of other sources on demagogues, especially their rhetorical techniques.

Cal M. Logue and Howard Dorgan, editors. The Oratory of Southern Demagogues (1981).

A survey of eight demagogues of the southern U.S., by a variety of authors. Includes an overview of demagogues in general.

G.M. Gilbert. "Dictators and Demagogues," Journal of Social Issues, Vol 11(3), 1955, 51-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1955.tb00330.x

General analysis of demagogues. (Unfortunately behind a paywall.)

Allan Louis Larson. Southern Demagogues: A Study in Charismatic Leadership (1964).

Might have a thorough analysis of defining characteristics of demagogues and how they target and exploit their followers.

Wilma Dykeman. "The Southern Demagogue," The Virginia Quarterly Review, 33.4 (Fall 1957): 558.

Appears to analyze why demagogues were so common in the southern U.S. in the early 20th century. (Behind a paywall.)

Allport, Gordon Willard. The Nature of Prejudice (25th-anniversary edition, 1979). Basic Books.

Includes a chapter on demagogues. Discusses the followers of demagogues as well as their motives and tactics.

Specifically about McCarthy

Richard H. Rovere. [https://books.google.com/books?id=h04T6e77NsMC Senator Joe McCarthy. (1959) This appears to be the definitive work.

Robert Shogan. No Sense of Decency: The Army-McCarthy Hearings: A Demagogue Falls and Television Takes Charge of American Politics. Ivan R. Dee (2009).

Charles Joseph Pruitt. Demagogue McCarthy. University of Oregon. (1967)

William T. Walker. McCarthyism and the Red Scare: A Reference Guide. ABC-CLIO (2011)

Specifically about Donald Trump

As of February, 2019, we don't have consensus that Donald Trump has merited sufficient coverage by authorities knowledgeable about demagogues to merit a mention in the article. As reliable sources accumulate, please list them here, both to help editors judge when it's time to change the consensus and to provide references when the time comes. Not all the references listed here are suited for citing in the article; they're of high quality, but some are useful mainly as leads to other sources or to gauge the level of agreement and interest among authorities. For judging when the coverage is sufficient, please consider the higher standards that Wikipedia requires for information about living persons, especially WP:BLPREMOVE (take care to use high-quality sources; don't argue for your own, first-hand conclusions) and WP:PUBLICFIGURE (there should be a "multitude of reliable published sources").

Michael Signer. "Donald Trump Wasn't a Textbook Demagogue Until Now." Washington Post, December 2, 2015.

Analysis of precisely why Trump meets the criteria of a demagogue, written by possibly the current leading authority on demagogues.

Patrick Healy and Maggie Haberman. "95,000 Words, Many of Them Ominous, From Donald Trump’s Tongue." New York Times, December 6, 2015.

In-depth analysis, with consultation by experts Jennifer Mercieca and Michael Kazin.

Philip Freeman, Loren J. Samons II, Daniel Schily, Melissa Lane, Jason Brennan, Rafael Piñeiro, Les Drutman. "What History Teaches Us About Demagogues Like The Donald." Zócalo Public Square, June 20, 2016, reprinted in Time Magazine, same date.

Little information specifically about Trump, but illustrates academic consensus that Trump is a demagogue.

Jennifer Mercieca. "The rhetorical brilliance of Trump the demagogue." The Conversation, December 11, 2015.

Somewhat unfocused analysis of Trump's demagoguery. Gives emphasis to logical fallacies rather than crowd-manipulation.

Oliver Hahla, Minjae Kimb, Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan. "The Authentic Appeal of the Lying Demagogue: Proclaiming the Deeper Truth about Political Illegitimacy." Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, MIT Sloan School of Management, January 10, 2018.

Draws extensively upon Trump as a prototypical example of a "lying demagogue" whose supporters support him even though they know he's lying.

How Democracies Die is a 2018 book by Harvard University political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt about how elected leaders can gradually subvert the democratic process to increase their power. — Preceding unsigned comment added by WinstonSmith01984 (talk • contribs) 13:12, 24 February 2020 (UTC)

Eric Posner. "[The Demagogue's Playbook: The Battle for American Democracy From the Founders to Trump]." All Points Books, 2020.

Examines the recurring influence of demagoguery in American politics and its impact on democratic values. Posner defines a demagogue as a leader who seeks power by appealing to popular desires and prejudices, often bypassing democratic norms. He traces this phenomenon from the country's founding to contemporary politics, discussing figures like Andrew Jackson, Huey Long, Joe McCarthy, and, most recently, Donald Trump. Posner argues that the Founders structured the Constitution to prevent demagogic leaders from destabilizing the republic. However, they couldn't predict the rise of modern political parties and mass media, which transformed how politicians can sway the public. By examining historical examples, Posner suggests that demagogues often manipulate emotions, polarize society, and weaken democratic institutions to maintain power. In his analysis of Trump, he asserts that Trump's methods mirror classical demagogic tactics, which threaten the democratic fabric by undermining checks and balances, the rule of law, and civil discourse.

Eric Posner is a prominent legal scholar and professor at the University of Chicago Law School, known for his expertise in constitutional law, international law, and political theory. He holds a strong academic reputation, with numerous publications in high-ranking law journals and books that address complex legal and political topics, including national security, economics, and executive power. Posner’s background gives The Demagogue's Playbook significant scholarly weight, as he brings a deep understanding of the constitutional framework and historical precedents shaping American democracy. His scholarly work is characterized by rigorous analysis, thorough historical research, and an evidence-based approach, which informs his examination of demagoguery in The Demagogue's Playbook. Posner uses primary sources, references to constitutional principles, and comparative analysis with historical figures, ensuring that his arguments are grounded in both legal and historical scholarship. This methodology and Posner’s standing in legal academia make the book a respected, scholarly examination of American democracy and its vulnerabilities.

I found some other (conflicting) scientific sources about Donald Trump:

* The Rhetoric of Our Celebrity Demagogue says:

Donald Trump is a demagogue. A great number of political and historical commentators have stated as much. Frederic Rich (2016) succinctly lists the actions that justify this assertion: the demagogue obliterated the normal rules of political conduct; he exploits the prejudices and false beliefs of hisn fans, inflaming their passions rather than offering reasoned discussion of the issues; he is wholly intolerant of criticism—to the point of seeking to silence the press; he is not above inciting violence; and he is uninterested in, if not hostile to, the US Constitution and the nation’s laws. Historian Shawn Parry-Giles (2002) defined propaganda as “strategically devised messages that are disseminated to masses of people by an institution for the purpose of generating action benefiting its source” (xxvi). On the first full day of his presidency, the demagogue said he was in “a running war with the media” (White House 2017). Now he marshals the White House’s communication apparatus to disseminate his propaganda—a terrifying prospect for people across the ideological spectrum. Since he can easily distract us from important issues at hand, we must be vigilant (Stanley 2015).

* The Art of Masculine Victimhood: Donald Trump’s Demagoguery says:

Although the press has been willing to label Trump a demagogue, contemporary rhetorical scholars have dismissed or avoided the term, with the exceptions of Patricia Roberts-Miller’s work on demagoguery as the inducement of “in-group” thinking (462), and Josh Gunn’s attention to its psychological aspects. Otherwise, rhetoric scholars infrequently invoke demagoguery. Some treat it as a taken-for-granted concept (see I. Allen; Engels; Jones; O’Gorman). J. Michael Hogan and Dave Tell worry that the study of demagoguery enables scholars to smuggle in their political agendas, presenting political/ideological judgments as objective --PJ Geest (talk) 09:52, 7 June 2020 (UTC)

Opinion: Donald Trump Could Write the Book on Talking Like a Demagogue Shafer, Jack. POLITICO, Robert L. Allbritton, 1 June 2020, 6:53 P.M. DonkeyPunchResin (talk) 15:11, 15 July 2020 (UTC)

Specifically about Benito Mussolini

Frank Iezzi, "Benito Mussolini, Crowd Psychologist". Quarterly Journal of Speech, 45:2, 166–170 (1959).

Describes Mussolini's methods, sometimes as explained by Mussolini himself.

Demagogic Overthrow of Democracies

William Golding's wrote The Lord of the Flies to capture recycling but often unlearned lessons from history about the overthrow of democratic governments by ambitious demagogues. Although the novel is sometimes interpreted as an explanation based on the primitive psychology of human nature beneath the veneer of civilization, the novel also details a range of adult psychological processes, including delays, until it is too late, of democratic governments to recognize that they are in mortal danger. The personality traits of different boys who support the original democratic government on the island refer also to different aspects of human nature and institutions with relevant truths who fail to play, in Golding's view, preventive roles, notably religious/spiritual institutions (Simon) and smart intellectuals who can go step-by-step in their heads (Piggy). The final scenes of the novel show Ralph, the earlier democratic leader, fleeing for his life from a primitive band of warriors on an island, ablaze and in chaos, after a coup by Jack, the ambitious-demagogue- turned-dictator. The novel's ending appears relevant to cumulative wisdom about demagogues and Donald Trump's violent band, invading the US Capitol in January 2021 in a coup attempt, shouting "Hang Mike Pence!" Letedge (talk) 15:38, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

The US Constitution as a Design for Demagogue-Free Democracy

Here are further references about Demagogues relevant to the Founding Fathers focus on the problem of creating a demagogue-proof Constitution for a democracy, using a (buffered) representative and checks-and-balances Republic design rather than direct democracy. Perplexity is trained on peer-reviewed sources and I think this discussion is accurate. LE

Reply of Perplexity.ai, with citations, to the query: Can you create an inventory of all uses of the word "demagogue" by the Founding Fathers in discussions of the Constitution? 8/18/2024.

The term "demagogue" was a significant concern for the Founding Fathers during the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. They were acutely aware of the dangers posed by demagogues to democratic systems, drawing from their understanding of Greek and Roman history as well as political philosophy[1][3]. Here is an overview of how the Founding Fathers used and discussed the term "demagogue" in the context of the Constitution:

1. **General Fear of Demagogues**: The Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, were deeply concerned about the potential rise of demagogues who could manipulate public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. They viewed demagogues as a primary threat to the stability and integrity of the young nation[3][4].

2. **Constitutional Safeguards**: The framers of the Constitution incorporated several mechanisms to guard against the influence of demagogues. These included the establishment of the Electoral College and the powers of impeachment, conviction, and removal. These measures were intended to prevent demagogues from gaining unchecked power and to maintain a system of checks and balances[1][4].

3. **Specific Mentions and Warnings**: During the Constitutional Convention, the word "demagogue" was reportedly used 21 times in discussions about creating a government structure that could resist despotism and tyranny[3]. Alexander Hamilton, in the first Federalist Paper, warned that many who had overturned republics started as demagogues and ended as tyrants[4].

4. **Influence on Political Thought**: The Founders' fear of demagogues was not just a reaction to contemporary threats but was also informed by historical examples and political theory. They believed that demagogues could erode civic virtue and exploit populist rhetoric to gain power, ultimately threatening the democratic process[4].

Overall, the Founding Fathers' discussions on demagogues were integral to shaping the U.S. Constitution, reflecting their intent to create a robust framework capable of withstanding the destabilizing influence of such figures.

Citations: [1] https://www.vanderbilt.edu/unity/2021/04/07/civics-101-keep-demagogues-out-of-democracy/ [2] https://www.patriciarobertsmiller.com/2018/02/05/classical-uses-term-demagogue-ry/ [3] https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/impeachment-constitution-founding-fathers-demagogue-20200101.html [4] https://repository.uclawsf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2193&context=hastings_constitutional_law_quarterly.

[Hamilton’s view was: “History will teach us that [the passionate championship for Populist causes] has been found a much more certain road to the introduction of despotism . . . and that of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.” – quotation from Federalist #1 added by L. Etheredge].

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagogue Letedge (talk) 15:51, 18 August 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 3 November 2024

Dear friends, just saw your semi-protection … here is an interesting short paragraph with information from Europe: The philosopher of language and political scientist Paul Sailer-Wlasits has been researching (since more than 20 years) contemporary issues in the field of philosophy of language, focusing on language and violence, hate speech, and demagoguery. Pls. see below, for the article "Demagogue", preferably at the very end of the paragraph "History and definition of the word"; kind regards, Peter Weber

The Austrian philosopher of language and political scientist Paul Sailer-Wlasits differentiates between populism and demagoguery, asserting: "A central aspect that distinguishes populism from demagoguery is that demagogues in politics possess substantial systemic power for mobilization, which poses a serious threat to democracy." In political practice, he argues, a clear indication of demagoguery is when "the person, the party, and the political program merge, manifesting as over-identification and over-personalization in a single leading figure." Pete Weber (talk) 03:35, 3 November 2024 (UTC)

References