Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Historical & Political Studies; College of Arts & Sciences
First Advisor
Angela Kachuyevski
Abstract
The U.S. far right has become increasingly mainstream in contemporary American politics. In this paper, I analyze the theory that the far right has gained ground due to a backlash from neoliberal policies beginning in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan. Using Process tracing, I operationalize claims made by those arguing that the white working class has moved towards the far right due to their loss of status, as well as the theory that specific wealthy actors have mobilized these groups and altered the movement against neoliberalism to suit their interests. I find that these arguments have merit, and further the resulting decline in the economic stability of the white working class and the collapse of the welfare state also have influence.
Recommended Citation
Fuller, Jacob, "Backfire: How the Rise of Neoliberalism Facilitated the Rise of The Far Right" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 4.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2021/pgl/4
Included in
American Politics Commons, Economic History Commons, Income Distribution Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Political Economy Commons, Political Theory Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons, United States History Commons
Backfire: How the Rise of Neoliberalism Facilitated the Rise of The Far Right
The U.S. far right has become increasingly mainstream in contemporary American politics. In this paper, I analyze the theory that the far right has gained ground due to a backlash from neoliberal policies beginning in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan. Using Process tracing, I operationalize claims made by those arguing that the white working class has moved towards the far right due to their loss of status, as well as the theory that specific wealthy actors have mobilized these groups and altered the movement against neoliberalism to suit their interests. I find that these arguments have merit, and further the resulting decline in the economic stability of the white working class and the collapse of the welfare state also have influence.