#2506

Mentioned in 14 episodes

The Paranoid Style in American Politics

Book • 1964

In this seminal work, Richard Hofstadter explores the concept of the 'paranoid style' in American politics, which he defines as a way of seeing and doing politics characterized by heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy.

The book, which includes the titular essay first published in Harper's Magazine in 1964, delves into historical examples such as the Anti-Masonic Movement, Father Coughlin's antisemitic conspiracies, and the post-McCarthy Right.

Hofstadter argues that this style is not exclusive to any one side of the political spectrum and has been a recurring theme throughout American history, influencing political discourse and the behavior of individuals and groups.

The book also includes other essays on topics like 'Free Silver and the Mind of 'Coin' Harvey' and 'What Happened to the Antitrust Movement?

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Mentioned by

Mentioned in 14 episodes

Mentioned by

Jonah Goldberg

, discussing his conflicted views on Hofstadter's work and its application to American politics.

50 snips

Crackpot Realism

Mentioned by

Tom Holland

as a book about the paranoid style in American politics.

39 snips

392. JFK: The Road to the White House (Part 1)

Mentioned by

Jon Allsop

regarding the paranoid style in American politics and its historical presence.

34 snips

How the Epstein Conspiracy Theory Took Over Politics

Mentioned by

David Runciman

as the originator of the term 'paranoid style' to describe McCarthyism in American politics.

25 snips

Politics on Trial: The Haymarket Eight vs the Police

Mentioned by

Justin Murphy

when discussing the paranoid style in American politics.

13 snips

Markets Learn to Manufacture Intelligence and Politics Modernizes (Nick Land, Meltdown, Sentence 3)

Mentioned by

Jonathan Freedland

as a book that often touches on conspiracy theories in American politics.

12 snips

Revisited: Did the assassination of JFK kickstart the conspiracy theory movement?

Mentioned by

Josh Neal

in relation to his critique of anti-conspiracy polemics.

Episode 1192: Anti-Conspiracy Activist's Self-Interested Motivations w/ Josh Neal

Mentioned by

Gio Pennacchietti

as supremely relevant, especially when reading someone who is an enemy.

What is the Dissident Right? w/ Gio Pennacchietti: The J. Burden Show Ep. 372

Mentioned by

John Podhoretz

in reference to the concept of paranoia in politics and its relevance today.

The Insane Trump-Is-Dead News Cycle

Mentioned by

Garrison Davis

when discussing American conspiracy culture and politics.

Dogwhistle Politics and Nazi Code Hunting

Mentioned by

Geoff Shullenberger

when discussing right-wing conspiratorial thinking in mid-20th century America.

Geoff Shullenberger: Foucault in America

Mentioned by

Stephen Clermont

when going back and reading about the anti-Mason hysteria.

"Paranoid Thinking" with Stephen Clermont

Mentioned by

Dominic Sandbrook

in the context of Marilyn Monroe's entanglement in conspiracy theories.

237. Marilyn Monroe

Mentioned by

Jonathan Church

, referencing the essay about a conspiratorial mindset in American politics.

Reconsidering Anti-wokeness with Jonathan Church

Mentioned by

Natalie Wynn

as a philosophical source about John Bircher style anti-communist conspiracy theories.

Contrapoints' Natalie Wynn Deep Dives into the Philosophy of Conspiracies

Mentioned by

Josh Neal

when discussing the culture of suspicion in American politics.

Episode 546: Josh Neal on Intolerant Interpretations

Mentioned by

Andrew Keen

in relation to the culture of paranoia and conspiracy theories in American culture.

Episode 2253: Andrew Keen revisits Cult of the Amateur

Mentioned by

Alex Wagner

in the context of the paranoid style in American politics.

Ep. #550: Michael Eric Dyson, Alex Wagner

Mentioned by

Paul Starr

as a great book tracing the line from McCarthy to Trump.

America as a Contradiction Trapped Inside an even Bigger Contradiction: Princeton Historian's Explanation for Everything, Everywhere All at Once

Mentioned by

Shane Harris

in a discussion about conspiracy theories and their cyclical nature in American politics.

Chatter: Closing the Chatterbox, with Shane Harris and David Priess

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