The danger we face during in this current outbreak of authoritarian ethno-nationalism is that many people genuinely are feeling the pain of displacement due to globalism. We genuinely do lack the spiritual and moral capacity to adequately address the loss of identity and meaning that are essential components of being human. The power of false leaders always rests in the vehemence and energy of those who follow, the joiners. The synergy is toxic and impossible to steer.
The dynamic I am talking about was clearly defined by Hannah Arendt but has largely been misunderstood in the popular understanding of Arendt's observation. The banality of evil isn't that we mindlessly follow charismatic leaders, it is that charismatic leaders fill the void of meaninglessness and vapid theological circumstances with a dangerous opening to true belief in essential lies. In short, the banality of evil is bad religion.
Trump has declared, "I alone can fix it." Millions believe him. Unchecked, almost anything will be justifiable for the true believer joined to this reality.
Misreading 'Eichmann in Jerusalem' by Roger Berkowitz - key graphs
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