JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Damage Done: A Mandate to Demolish America's Progress Toward a More Perfect Union.

  • Published In: World Affairs, 2025, v. 188, n. 1. P. 1 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Brunello, Anthony R. 3 of 3

Abstract

One of the means to undermine democratic government is to destroy public trust in institutions. Tyrants break confidence in democracy by constantly attacking government as wasteful, incompetent, and illegitimate. The conservative movement in America gradually moved in this direction on three fronts: religion, economics, and democratic institutions, working toward minority autocracy and against egalitarianism and diversity. Reagan‐era neoliberalism evolved into the Tea Party Movement (in 2008) and has now transformed into MAGA (in 2016) (Make America Great Again) under Donald Trump. The Heritage Foundation is now ready to fulfill a dream of "dismantling the administrative state" with Project 2025: Mandate for Leadership (in 2023). This extended commentary chronicles the means through which the American conservative movement used racism and religion to undermine democratic institutions for the sake of power and wealth and to win an ideological culture war for White nationalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:World Affairs. 2025/01, Vol. 188, Issue 1, p1
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Political Science
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0043-8200
  • DOI:10.1002/waf2.12056
  • Accession Number:184140335
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