Dances w/ Devils How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes Influence RightWing Scapegoating & Conspir

[Emit]

Fascinating series of articles ~ long but worth a look. Discusses some of the phenomenon we are witnessing today with the Tea Party 'Baggers. (Mods, because this series includes two parts with multiple sections, I have taken the liberty of quoting more than 4 paragraphs, while including their respective links.)

Dances with Devils
How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes
Influence Right Wing Scapegoating and Conspiracism

Part One:
The Roots of the Apocalyptic Paradigm
An Overview of the Dynamics

~snip~

A remarkable number of myths, metaphors, images, symbols, phrases, and icons in Western culture flow from Christian Biblical prophecies about apocalyptic confrontations and millennial transformation.2 The Bible's Book of Revelation contains warnings that the end of time is foreshadowed by a vast Satanic conspiracy involving high government officials who betray the decent and devout productive citizens, while sinful and subversive tools of the Devil gnaw away at society from below.

In The Origins of Satan, author Elaine Pagels points out that today:

"Many religious people who no longer believe in Satan, along with countless others who do not identify with any religious tradition, nevertheless are influenced by this cultural legacy whenever they perceive social and political conflict in terms of the forces of good contending against the forces of evil in the world."3

The anticipation of a righteous struggle against evil conspiracies has become a central apocalyptic narrative in our nation's religious, secular, political, and cultural discourse...

~snip~

Could it happen again at the end of the 20th century? Holly Sklar, author of Chaos or Community: Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats for Bad Economics, argues that it might:

"The demonization of immigrants, welfare recipients, people of color, and single mothers is already tolerated to an alarming degree in mainstream political debate. Now as we head toward the millennium, we also face the rising fervor of those driven by visions of culture war and apocalypse."8

~snip~

These apocalyptic fears and millennial expectations in turn influence three broad contemporary right-wing movements in the US:

· Activists in various sectors of the Christian Right, ranging from electoral to insurgent, and with varying views regarding whether or not the year 2000 marks the End Times. This includes attempts by Christian hard-liners to purify the society as part of a religious revival, such as the homophobic statements by Trent Lott, ...

· Right wing populists, including survivalists, gun rights activists, anti-elite conspiracists, and participants in the Patriot & armed militia movements. Conspiracist scapegoating is rampant in this sector. ...

· The far right, including neonazis and persons influenced by far right versions of the Christian Identity religion. ...

©1982-2007 Political Research Associates

http://www.publiceye.org/apocalyptic/Dances_with_Devils_1.html

Conspiracism

It is very effective to mobilize mass support against a scapegoated enemy by claiming that the enemy is part of a vast insidious conspiracy against the common good. In conspiracist discourse, the supposed conspirators serve as scapegoats for the actual conflict within the society.49 The conspiracist worldview sees secret plots by tiny cabals of evildoers as the major motor powering important historical events; makes irrational leaps of logic in analyzing factual evidence in order to "prove" connections; blames social conflicts on demonized scapegoats; and constructs a closed metaphysical worldview that is highly resistant to criticism.50 ...

By blaming a small group of individuals for vast or horrific crimes, conspiracism serves to divert attention from the institutional locus of power that drives systemic oppression, injustice and exploitation. As explained by Frank P. Mintz:

"Conspiracism serves the needs of diverse political and social groups in America and elsewhere. It identifies elites, blames them for economic and social catastrophes, and assumes that things will be better once popular action can remove them from positions of power."52

Right-wing conspiracist scapegoating not only identifies and blames elites, but also identifies and blames alleged "subversives" and "parasites" from groups that have relatively low social or economic status.

~snip~

In highlighting conspiracist allegation as a form of scapegoating, it is important to remember the following:

· All conspiracist theories start with a grain of truth, which is then transmogrified through hyperbole and filtered through pre-existing myth and prejudice,

· People who believe conspiracist allegations sometimes act on those irrational beliefs, which has concrete consequences in the real world,

· Conspiracist thinking and scapegoating are symptoms, not causes, of underlying societal frictions, and as such should not be ignored,

· Scapegoating and conspiracist allegations are tools that can be used by cynical leaders to mobilize a mass following,

· Supremacist and fascist organizers use conspiracist theories as a relatively unthreatening entry point in making contact with potential recruits,

· Even when conspiracist theories do not center on Jews, people of color, or other scapegoated groups, they create an environment where racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of prejudice and oppression can flourish.

©1982-2007 Political Research Associates

http://www.publiceye.org/apocalyptic/Dances_with_Devils_1.html

Populist Conspiracism

When conspiracism is blended with populism, the result is frequently a worldview called "producerism." Producerist movements consider the "real" patriotic Americans to be hard-working people in the middle- and working-class who create goods and wealth while fighting against "parasites" at the top and bottom of society who pick their pockets. 140

~snip~

Producerism not only promotes scapegoating, but also has a history of assuming that a proper citizen is a White male. Historically, groups scapegoated by right-wing populist movements in the US have been immigrants and people of color, especially Blacks. Attention is diverted from inherent white supremacism by using coded language to reframe racism as a concern about specific issues, such as welfare, immigration, tax, or education policies.143 Non-Christian religions, women, gay men and lesbians, youth, students, reproductive rights activists, and environmentalists also are scapegoated.144 Sometimes producerism targets those persons who organize on behalf of impoverished and marginalized communities, especially progressive social change activists.145

~snip~

Populism can come from the bottom up, but it also can be deployed from the top down--used to attack the status quo by outsider business factions seeking to displace entrenched power structures. These outsider factions use populist rhetoric and conspiracist, anti-elite scapegoating to attract constituencies in the middle class and working class. As right-wing populist movements grow, they can lure mainstream politicians to adopt scapegoating, in order to attract voters. Their theories can legitimize acts of discrimination, or even violence. And reformist populist movements can open the door for insurgent right-wing movements such as fascism to recruit from their own movements by arguing that more drastic action is needed.150 Fascism itself is a distinctive form of conspiracist right-wing populism. ...

~snip~

©1982-2007 Political Research Associates

http://www.publiceye.org/apocalyptic/Dances_with_Devils_1-02.html

Part Two: Apocalyptic Millennialism and Contemporary US Right-Wing Movements

Right-wing populist movements can cause serious damage to a society because they often popularize xenophobia, authoritarianism, scapegoating, and conspiracism. This can lure mainstream politicians to adopt these themes to attract voters, legitimize acts of discrimination (or even violence), and open the door for revolutionary right-wing populist movements, such as fascism, to recruit from the reformist populist movements.

According to Richard K. Fenn:

Fascist tendencies are most likely to flourish wherever vestiges of a traditional community, bound together by ties of race and kinship, persist in a society largely dominated by large-scale organizations, by an industrial class system, and by a complex division of labor. Under these conditions the traditional community itself becomes threatened; its members all the more readily dread and demonize the larger society.121

Fenn argues that apocalyptic themes that lead to this tendency can be found in all three of the political tendencies examined in this study: the Christian Right, Patriot and armed militia movements, and the fascist right.122

By understanding the apocalyptic and millennialist roots of the conspiracist narratives peddled by right-wing populist forces, we can better understand why their claims--that seem on the surface to be outlandish--nonetheless resonate in certain alienated sectors of our society.123 ...

©1982-2007 Political Research Associates

http://www.publiceye.org/apocalyptic/Dances_with_Devils_2-01.html

Conclusions

~snip~

In times such as these, history passes a harsh judgment on silence. Instead of waiting to see who is next on the list, we must speak out against all forms of apocalyptic demonization, scapegoating, and conspiracism, because they are toxic to democratic discourse.

©1982-2007 Political Research Associates

http://www.publiceye.org/apocalyptic/Dances_with_Devils_2-02.html

[Adsos Letter]

1. Public Eye.org has been one of my must-read site for some time

Sara Diamond and Chip Berlet are wonderful authors, and the site is of great value to anyone interested in American religious extremism, etc.

Thanks for posting!

[Emit]

2. You're welcome, Adsos Letter. It's a great website

and I hope other DUers visit. I had not seen this particular series of articles posted here on DU (perhaps they have been) but the topic is of particular interest to me now because of the insidious conspiratorial and negative (read: scary) aspects of the Tea Party groups. I hope others take the time to read this. I think that we cannot ignore what is going on with this Tea Party movement ~ it could be a very dark turning point in American history, especially for liberals and progressives, minorities, etc.

[Adsos Letter]

3. It is, indeed, a very timely and important subject, Emit.

I am just finishing (this semester) my MA in History; my focus in Grad school has been on 17th century English/19th century American history, but when I started my undergrad I did a lot of work on eschatological/apocalyptic studies (this was back in the late 1980's-early 90's). I was interested in how Christian's beliefs about the future cause them to act, socially and politically, in the present.

We are seeing it play out all around us, including the apocalyptic/demonizing rhetoric.

[Emit]

15. Very interesting, Adsos Letter, that you studied eschatological/apocalyptic studies

I could really sit and pick your brain! For one, I'd be curious to know whether you reached any major conclusions from your studies?

Thanks for kicking and rec'ing this post - despite the fact that it initially reads solely as an end timer phenomenon, which some may tend to discard as unlikely to have much impact on the whole, it also addresses how even non-believers identify and are influenced by the cultural legacy of apocalyptic beliefs, and how those on the right are most susceptible to this radical conspiracism:

Many religious people who no longer believe in Satan, along with countless others who do not identify with any religious tradition, nevertheless are influenced by this cultural legacy whenever they perceive social and political conflict in terms of the forces of good contending against the forces of evil in the world.

The piece in its entirety is a must read in order to understand the underpinnings of this Tea Party/GOP that we are witnessing.

[Emit]

22. I have been reading more from that site.

In this interview with Suzanne Pharr, Chip Berlet and Loretta Ross, entitled Tea Party Rides 'Perfect Storm' of Populist Rage, these comments caught my attention:

Loretta Ross: Was I surprised? ... It’s hard to be surprised, but the hardest thing is not to be cynical and to work for human rights when these forces keep reinventing themselves. They never retreat. They just regroup. We suffer under our own illusions if we think the election of Obama would push them into retreat. What we see in the Deep South is an alliance being made in an interesting way. In the last 30 years, we’ve had neo-Confederates flirting with the edges of the mainstream, like David Duke temporarily choosing the ballot instead of bullets. There is a resurgence of a neo-Confederate movement—the re-legitimization of the Council of Conservative Citizens. We have mainstream Republicans thinking they can foment this rage on the far right and use them, but they will find they cannot control them and their violent tendencies.

~snip~

Ross: ... What I see as most dangerous short-term consequence of the Tea Party movement and our discourse on it is it is going to re-legitimate discredited ideas. ...

The comments in response are telling: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=6156cc8e4be86fb4777b681aaea58b1b

The GOP is re-legitimating discredited ideas, paving a platform. I fear more violence is on the horizon. Already, with the pilot suicide incident in Austin today, we found Tea Party members dedicating Facebook pages to him and supporting his actions.

[Adsos Letter]

4. K&R!

[bridgit]

5. Thanks for posting, Emit...

You're coming in clear on this end :kick:

[Emit]

6. Sure, bridgit, it's alarming

I fear a huge monster has been created and it will be interesting to see where it all leads. If there is one thing progressives and liberals can do, it's to stick together in some form in an attempt to counter this movement.

[bridgit]

23. Agreed

:)

[Mari333]

7. I was fascinated by this on the run up to the millenium back in 1999

Boston U. was doing a lot of research on the psychology of why people continue to create these conspiracies and end times scenarios out of their own fears.


It was great stuff to watch, then, very amusing to me at the time.

so thanks for posting this.

[Emit]

9. Yes, this piece was written in Fall 1998 and updated in April of '99

and does initially speak to the run up to the millennium.

The elements are all there now, however, to describe what we are seeing with the GOP/Baggers and various fringe elements that are joining ranks, rearing their ugly heads in unison.

End time beliefs and fears about the millennium aside, the overlying conspiracy that is a cohesive and motivating factor for both the GOP and 'Baggers now ~ the notion that Obama is an evil Socialist who has some grand plan to destroy America ~ was initially created by neoconservatives Sol Stern and David Horowitz. It has been repeated ad nauseum with nary a word of contradiction in M$M or even by opposing Democrats and Progressives.

[Mari333]

11. if one can understand the psychology behind this meme

they can nullify it or at least expose it for what it is.

It is merely a matter of bringing it to light. I applaud the researchers who studied this and their analysis.

[Emit]

13. If M$M would shed some real truth and light on the topic

rather than touting the 'Baggers as some grassroots populist uprising ~ then perhaps we can begin to nullify it. I fear that it will grow into proportions that will be difficult to counter, and that things may get uglier.

[Mari333]

17. I have a feeling that a lot of 'journalists' are not the brightest bulbs in the box

[Emit]

18. True, dat

Not to mention, at the risk of sounding conspiratorial, of course ;) , the fact that M$M may have their own ulterior motives in portraying these groups as mom and pop, ordinary Joe populists without delving into the dangerous radical underpinnings.

[Emit]

25. Democratic leaders need to address this head on

they need to shed light on this now, imho

[H2O Man]

8. Outstanding!

DU at its best! Definitely recommended.

The theocons exercise power on the political, economic, and cultural stage.

[Emit]

12. Thanks, H2O Man

We have to keep an eye on this, imho.

We've had the perfect storm ~ a huge economic catastrophe and fallout, an AA man with a funny name runs for and is elected POTUS, cries of Socialism immediately abound ~ put those together and the radicals crawl out.

The section on Populist Conspiracism, "producerism," is of particular interest, as it describes to a tee what is happening within the Tea Party 'movement' and explains very well why people can work so hard against their better interests:

the "real" patriotic Americans to be hard-working people in the middle- and working-class ... assuming that a proper citizen is a White male.

The scary part is the GOP's effort to instigate, feed the fear and prejudice, rile and embrace these radical elements (They'll make excellent foot soldiers for GOTV), again, addressed in the piece:

Populism can come from the bottom up, but it also can be deployed from the top down--used to attack the status quo by outsider business factions seeking to displace entrenched power structures. These outsider factions use populist rhetoric and conspiracist, anti-elite scapegoating to attract constituencies in the middle class and working class. As right-wing populist movements grow, they can lure mainstream politicians to adopt scapegoating, in order to attract voters...

The GOP have adopted these conspiracies as fact ~ The cries of Socialism, the 'birther' conspiracy, the 'deathers.'

The fact that radical ideas have been easily implanted into a major political party, all being discussed as if they rational facts, all presented in the mainstream, should be alarming to all.


And, of course, the conclusion is sound logic: We must speak out because they are toxic to democratic discourse.

[cali]

10. great post, emit. thanks so much for this.

[Emit]

16. Thanks for your input, cali

This article from publiceye.org really helps to define the underpinnings of the GOP/Glenn Beckers/tea party/birthers/etc.

Initial response, I think, has been to ignore it, classifying it as a bunch of crazies, or mock it for its extremism and mock the 'baggers for their mis-spelled words and crazy outfits. However, when delving into the underpinnings, and taking into consideration the potential results (especially considering the effort that the GOP has put toward courting and riling these various groups), I think more light needs to be shed on the subject.

What concerns me about this 'movement' is that many of these groups are coming together, finding common ground, spurred by the powers that be in the GOP and other conservative think tanks. In addition, we have folks who are new to the 'internets' who are unable to discern accurate and appropriate sources ~ folks who are already prime for being susceptible to conspiracy, folks who lean toward right wing authoritarianism ~ and that is the making of a huge crazy movement. At the risk of sounding very hyperbolic, those of us on the left, in the reality based community, may face a tidal wave, depending on where this all leads. At a minimum, it really is a reason to continue to remain politically involved, no matter how disappointed we are at the moment with our elected officials.

[BurtWorm]

14. Thank you!

k&R

[Emit]

20. Thanks for checking it out, BurtWorm

It fit so well with your post (Digby: Tea Party = Whiter, Maler, Rural-er Subsection of GOP) that I couldn't resist pointing you in this direction.

[Emit]

19. kick

for more exposure and discussion

[Odin2005]

21. K&R

[Emit]

24. kick