Trump's MAGA Movement: An Intellectual Revolution Undermining Liberalism

Political scientist Laura K. Field describes the MAGA movement as a paradox: while Donald Trump himself is an instinct-driven politician, the conservative intellectual factions supporting him have driven a radical right-wing agenda. For half a century, these factions have vied for dominance within the Republican party, with the radical right gaining ascendancy in the last decade.

This new right fundamentally rejects the "fusionism" of Ronald Reagan, which championed free markets and liberal internationalism. They argue that the liberal system, with its emphasis on individualism and materialism, has eroded core American values like community spirit. These ideologues see Trump as the ideal vehicle to implement their vision through policies such as strict border control, nationalist economics, and an "America First" transactional foreign policy. Their ultimate goal is to dismantle the existing order, which is based on individual rights and freedoms, and establish a strong executive power that restores traditional social hierarchies.

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It is actually a paradox: Trump is not an intellectual, but a politician who follows his instincts. But the American conservatism that supports him is highly intellectual.

Field notes that while Trump sometimes deviates from the movement's ideological tenets, such as his approach to the Iran conflict, the loyalty of his intellectual base remains strong. Some ideologues rationalize Trump's actions as long-term strategies for securing American interests. However, the movement's primary focus remains on the socio-cultural sphere, particularly through harsh anti-immigration measures, where there is significant consensus.

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This Right rejects Reagan's fusionism: they believe that in the liberal system, with its individualism and materialism, fundamental American values such as community spirit have been lost.

The intellectual underpinnings of MAGA clash with the very principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, such as the right to liberty and equality. Field points out that MAGA ideologues invoke a narrow, old-fashioned nationalism, promoting the idea of a "homogeneous" American people and excluding those deemed culturally "other." This stance contradicts the foundational liberal values they claim to uphold.

The widespread anger directed at the liberal system, Field explains, has been building for decades. Contributing factors include the costly US involvement in Middle East wars, the 2008 financial crisis that devastated many livelihoods, and the ongoing deindustrialization that eroded the middle class. The white working class, in particular, felt abandoned by a condescending elite. Compounding these issues are significant social and demographic shifts. This confluence of factors has exposed the vulnerabilities of the liberal system, revealing its inadequacy in providing answers to these deep-seated grievances.

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The anger has been building up over the past 30, 40 years. There are several reasons for this: the many US victims in the Middle East wars, which both parties supported; the financial crisis, where many people lost their livelihoods; deindustrialization and the erosion of the middle class.