Books for Understanding the World: Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics

I can already hear the outcry from all those fanatical Buzzards yelling, "What the hell does some crazy political theory book have to do with the ether, you stupid - albeit sexy and sensual Draperesque Man Whore- Mo' Fo'?!"  This would be followed by exchanges of: "We love you! We hate you! No! We love you!"  It is a hard balance The Buzzards must strike.  (For those unfamiliar with the insanity of The Buzzard Group (TBG), learn a little more from my first post. Also, for those men who feel that guilt for having a man-crush on Draper, despite him being a bit of a jerk, and for those women who shamelessly love him, watch this SNL skit.)

So, my imaginary, adoration-filled psycho contingent, here is the scoop.  We must learn about the insanity that comes from the human mind so that we can recognize that which comes from the mysterious bowels of the ether...if these are indeed two different places.  Strike everything I just wrote, Foo!  The ether may not exist outside the human mind, so the aforementioned drivel is just an excuse to expose all of you to some great books that should be read to understand the world we now live in.  Recognize, Yo!  By the way, my cat with an alternative lifestyle said he would cut you, Buzzards, if you broke in the house again.  He may like to be called pretty, but he's deadly.  But, seriously, I thank you for your loyal readership.

So, the book: Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics, by Marc J. Hetherington and Jonathan D. Weiler.

This book should be read to understand the psychology of the authoritarian mind and, as a consequence, the social dynamics that are created from this predisposition.  Hetherington and Weiler discuss how this reactionary proclivity prompts authoritarians to turn against all societal segments that are seen as "the other" and viewed as a threat to a perceived way of life.  They further reveal how societies are in conflict between those with an authoritarian outlook versus those without.  Despite what may seem a biased examination, the book is quite fair and does address how times of great social stress can cause latent authoritarian tendency to reveal themselves in all groups.  This is from an academic press, so it is heavy on analysis.  If you are a data-junky like me, you will love it.  Still, do not let this deter you, Buzzards.  It is not longer than it needs to be, is well written and most of the data-filled sections can be skipped while maintaining an understanding of the subject.

This is a worthwhile read, whether you agree with the authors' positions or not.  If, Buzzards and non-Buzzards, you find the book erroneous, ridiculous, wrongheaded, and a product of those liberal academics who have never had a real job so they don't know what they are talking about...please, argue your point.  It is better to learn new information and incorporate it into one's analysis that leads to some attempt at a truth, than to figure out the truth first and suit the variables to fit what feels good...in other words, confirmation bias.  If you are not familiar with the term, confirmation bias, read this Science Daily article.  In short, it is the condition where people do not incorporate facts or new information into their reasoning, only information that confirms their current beliefs.  We are all guilty of this in some fashion, Buzzards, but for some it is the rule, not the exception.  Anyhow, I welcome the discussion!

Below, I have pasted one of A&P's reviews in case all you Buzzard are sitting back and saying I am full of poo-tar.

The once-dormant concept of authoritarianism has seen a rebirth in recent years, as scholars have begun to appreciate fully its explanatory power. Nowhere has this power been analyzed more thoughtfully than in Authoritarianism and Polarization in American Politics, where Hetherington and Weiler argue persuasively that the evolving political landscape, whose topography is often shaped by visceral issues such as race, crime, feminism, sexual orientation, immigration, and terrorism, is the inevitable result of the clashing and irreconcilable worldviews of individuals with, and without, authoritarian belief systems, who simply think about the world in fundamentally different, and polarized, ways. Perhaps the most important contribution of this book, however, is the insight that authoritarianism does not explain everything political; conditions sometimes arise that cause people with different worldviews to see the world the same way. After 9/11 a large proportion of Americans supported torture, wiretapping, and preemptive war. These were not fringe positions taken only by hard-core authoritarians. Rather, the authors show that reasonable people want to feel safe, too, and will support a strong hand when they feel threatened. This book will be central to our understanding of the roots and ramifications of post-9/11 politics.
-Jon Hurwitz, University of Pittsburgh

Well, feather-(there's only one word that really rhymes here, so I will move on) - I've got to go see a man about a horse.