Evolution, Politics and Charisma : Why Do Populists Win?

__Evolution, Politics and Charisma: Why do Populists Win?__ shines compelling new light on the way in which the systematic targeting and manipulation of human physiology remain a cornerstone of all populist political campaigns. Readers wishing to make sense of the populist juggernauts of Trump and Brexit and of the cyclical and formulaic nature of the rise and fall of charismatic populism will find this book particularly appealing. Elesa Zehndorfer begins by presenting a highly applied explanation of the critical importance of political physiology, physiology theory, neuroscience and evolutionary biology in populist charismatic politics. She later eloquently explains how manipulation of physiological variables (such as heightened testosterone and dopamine) renders the political rally one of the most powerful weapons in a populist leaders’ campaign. Weber’s seminal conceptualisation of charisma ‘in statu nascendi’ and Hyman Minsky’s insightful theories of cyclical boom-and-bust scenarios are then juxtaposed alongside physiological theory to greatly amplify our understanding of the powerful biological antecedents of charismatic populism. These theoretical observations are then applied directly to recent high-profile populist campaigns – including the 2016 Trump Presidential campaign and early Presidency – and the Brexit referendum, to elucidating and compelling effect. Ultimately, __Evolution, Politics and Charisma__ paints a clear evolutionary picture of the way in which politics is an emotional – not a rational – process, where our emotions are continually targeted to great, and strategic, effect, and where the most recent intersection of technology and physiology has driven the greatest surge in populism ever seen across the Western hemisphere since the 1930’s. Acknowledging this reality opens up exciting vistas in our understanding of the true power of charismatic populism and provides answers as to how its seductive and often dangerous power can be effectively resisted. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of figures Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Ninety-Eight Percent The Ninety-Eight Percent Political Junkies: An Introduction to Political Physiology Partisanship: The Madness of Crowds The Political Battlefield Politics versus Reason Homeostasis An Appetite for Fear and Risk Germophobes, Pathogens and Politics Lust and Disgust An Emotional Monopoly Half Genetic Uncertainty and Ambiguity Resistance to Change Low IQ or Low Effort? Serotonin and Voter Turnout Social Media, Social Provocation? Blue Brains Dopamine and Democrats Humour as Resistance Saturday Night Resistance A Different Kind of Humour Summary Notes 2. The Political Rally Rallies and Oaths Degrading Democracy Cashing In The Attraction of Political Rallies Susceptibility to Appeals Animal Magnetism Addicted to Politics? Sensation-Seeking in Political Campaigns From Populism to Pathos Apocalyptic Confrontations Crises Breed Charisma Alpha Campaigns Energy Flow Energy Flow and Excitation-Transfer The Physiological Rollercoaster Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear An Age of Reason Endocrinology and Entitlement Political Rallies, Radicalization and Oxytocin Us and Them Summary Notes 3. Nature versus the Election Cycle Stressful Encounters The Power of Nature Geomagnetic and Political Storms Full Moons and Sun Spots The Sport of Politics Politics and the Entertainment Effect Food for Thought From Junk Food to Junk News Sensation-Seeking and Swing States Addicted to the Internet Tune In, Can’t Tune Out Eat the Doughnut Vicarious Trauma (PTSD) The Truth about Tech Ripping Holes in the Fabric of Society Lizard Brains Populism: Unregulated Advertising A Unique Amateurism A Golden Age of Ignorance Celebrity, Charisma and Catastrophes Summary Notes 4. The Physiology of Polarization Elixirs of War Dehumanization and Imagination: An Explosive Evolutionary Mix The Art of Self-Deception Voter Suppression by Race The Torturers’ Lobby Political Clientelism Political Renaissance Diffusion of Political Clientelism and Monetization The Producers Anti-Immigration Rhetoric and Other Gateway Drugs Integration, Not Demonization Methamphetamines and Opioids: Political Blitzkrieg The Fifty-Two Million Politics on Steroids Empathizing on Acetaminophen Hillbilly Heroin No Monopoly on Pain Vaping to Victory Dopamine Separates Us from the Animals Summary Notes 5. The Life Cycle of Charismatic Populism The Power of Emotion The Life Cycle of Charismatic Populism Stability Is Destabilizing: The Displacement The Boom and Euphoria Phases Weaponizing Tweets The CIA, Charisma and Psychological Warfare God, Homeland and Democracy Soviet Reflexive Mind-Control Modern-Day Colonialism Populism as a Strategy Profit Taking Lawsuits, Narcissists and Charismatics Charisma: It’s Personal Power and Prestige Developing Demagoguery From Populism to Authoritarianism Charisma, Cults and Radicals Authoritarian Instincts The Panic Phase Charisma and Crisis Hitting the Panic Button From Rage to Risk Electoral Violence Brexit Means Brexit Charisma Charisma, Pathos and the Charismatization of Politics Citizens United Bastards and Sons of Bitches Biological Charisma Mastering Facial Metrics Charisma and Narcissism Politics and Grandiose Narcissism Productive Narcissism Charisma of Office Legitimate Charisma A Tinder Box of Populism Exchange-Triggers and Dominating Behaviours Socialized Charisma The Courage to Change Summary Notes 6. Political Animals and Animal Spirits Reframing Politics; Reframing Rationality Rational Expectations and Charisma Rational Expectations Primal Desires Political Animals and Animal Spirits Behavioural Politics: A Taxonomy of Irrational Voting Behaviours The Framing Effect Excitation-Transfer The Charisma/Gatekeeper Effect Herding The Winner Effect The Anticipatory/Challenge Effect Cognitive Dissonance Bias Availability Heuristic Churning and Overtrading Political Animals and Animal Spirits: From Boom to Bust Riding the Wave ... Until the Crash Taming the Political Animal Summary Notes Bibliography Index "Evolution, Politics and Charisma: Why do Populists Win? shines compelling new light on the way in which the systematic targeting and manipulation of human physiology remain a cornerstone of all populist political campaigns. Readers wishing to make sense of the populist juggernauts of Trump and Brexit and of the cyclical and formulaic nature of the rise and fall of charismatic populism will find this book particularly appealing. Elesa Zehndorfer begins by presenting a highly applied explanation of the critical importance of political physiology, physiology theory, neuroscience and evolutionary biology in populist charismatic politics. She later eloquently explains how manipulation of physiological variables (such as heightened testosterone and dopamine) renders the political rally one of the most powerful weapons in a populist leaders’ campaign. Weber’s seminal conceptualisation of charisma ‘in statu nascendi’ and Hyman Minsky’s insightful theories of cyclical boom-and-bust scenarios are then juxtaposed alongside physiological theory to greatly amplify our understanding of the powerful biological antecedents of charismatic populism. These theoretical observations are then applied directly to recent high-profile populist campaigns – including the 2016 Trump Presidential campaign and early Presidency – and the Brexit referendum, to elucidating and compelling effect. Ultimately, Evolution, Politics and Charisma paints a clear evolutionary picture of the way in which politics is an emotional – not a rational – process, where our emotions are continually targeted to great, and strategic, effect, and where the most recent intersection of technology and physiology has driven the greatest surge in populism ever seen across the Western hemisphere since the 1930’s. Acknowledging this reality opens up exciting vistas in our understanding of the true power of charismatic populism and provides answers as to how its seductive and often dangerous power can be effectively resisted." --From publisher's description Shines new light on the way that systematic targeting and manipulation of human physiology form a cornerstone of all populist political campaigns. Readers wishing to understand the populist juggernauts of Trump and Brexit and the cyclical and formulaic nature of the rise and fall of charismatic populism will find this book particularly appealing.