Ive written elsewhere about the toxic backwards politics of USA and how its being imported into NZ in rhetoric by NZ First and ACT . No doubt better explained here ;
In The Reactionary Spirit, Zack Beauchamp identifies a "toxic tradition" that the United States has exported globally: the reactionary spirit. This phenomenon emerges when democratic progress—such as the expansion of civil rights or the push for equality—provokes a backlash from those seeking to preserve existing social hierarchies. Rather than overtly opposing democracy, these reactionaries co-opt democratic institutions and rhetoric to undermine them, often under the guise of defending democracy itself.
Beauchamp traces this tradition back to the United States, where, despite foundational ideals of liberty and equality, historical practices like slavery and disenfranchisement revealed a deep-seated contradiction. As democratic reforms advanced, factions arose to resist these changes, viewing them as threats to established social orders. This resistance, characterized by a desire to "weaken or even abolish" democratic institutions, has since spread to other nations, including Hungary, Israel, and India, influencing their political landscapes .
Beauchamp's analysis highlights how this reactionary spirit is not merely a conservative stance but a fundamentally anti-democratic force that seeks to erode the very principles of equality and representation upon which democracies are built. By examining this pattern, he underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive defense of democratic values against such insidious threats.
Hachette Australia $55
Paperplus NZ $74
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