Policing the Crisis w/ Michael Denning
The Dig
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Moral Panic and Authoritarianism
This chapter explores the phenomenon of moral panic and its connection to authoritarian shifts in society, with a focus on historical events from the late 1960s and early 1970s in the U.S. and Britain. It examines how societal fears, exemplified by crises such as union strikes and racial issues, legitimize coercive state measures and how these dynamics resonate with contemporary political discourse. Utilizing Marxist theory, the chapter critiques the evolving relationship between social classes and political representation, particularly in the context of labor movements and the rise of authoritarian populism.
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