How Did Trump Win?

The question how did Trump win has multiple complex answers, from being a response to economic deprivation to being a result of political resettlement. But one of the core explanations is linked to the definition of national identity. In multi-cultural societies, a political national identity has competing meanings based on alternative interpretations of constitutional principles, culture, and nationalistic sentiments. The connection with a particular narrative chosen among the set of available national narratives provides people the meaning of identity, connection to the nation, and temporal coherence. It helps clearly define the “us” and “them,” legitimacy and boundaries within the nation.

Trump has made the issue of national identity a central part of the campaign. Traditionally, political competition in the United States evokes dichotomy of “liberal” versus “conservative.” This was a core of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. However, Trump brought a new dichotomy of “nation” versus “globalized world.” He empowered his supporters who believed that increasing globalization is undermining the national interests of the U.S. and the established concept of American citizenship.

Empowerment is usually defined as an initial ability to work jointly and in solidarity and develop resistance to existing structures of power or ideology. Empowerment helps individuals within a community to exercise their power through communication and cooperation. Trump’s approach to power is different from this liberal interpretation. He was employing perception of power as a zero-sum game that is reliant on dominance and competition. Trump supporters favor his style of leadership because it resonates with their understanding of strength.

In this process of ‘social becoming,’ supporters become more empowered and believe their leader will give them an opportunity to redefine the meaning of national identity. Through Trump, his supporters hope to attain more power and authority, take control of their own lives, and actively participate in shaping the vision of the nation.

Trump has built his campaign on a strong demand within some segments of American population for fundamental socio-political change that has at its core a restoration of the country’s greatness by reestablishing national control and protection of borders, culture, and national identity, and the promotion of the interests and positions of native citizens. The mass support for Trump is rooted in an inability of this population to accept the ongoing transformation that is moving the world toward an ever increasing globalized, multicultural society complete with blurred boundaries and liberal policies. The changes, impacting the status quo of the majority of Americans respectively, have occurred at a pace they were not ready for.

For many people, these changes have created a deep degree of cultural stress and a feeling that they are losing their privileged or hard-earned social standing. The critical mass of resentment that has taken shape has been further magnified by the slow and uneven recovery from the worldwide economic crisis of 2008 and the resulting high levels of unemployment.

These grievances, held by significant parts of the American population, have not been taken into account by many within the U.S. political establishment, including  executive branch leadership. Current policies have provided little opportunity for large segments of society to receive the benefits of globalization. High levels of socio-economic inequality and low upward mobility have made them feel desperate and uneasy about their children’s future. Moreover, their interests have not been fully addressed and little empathy has been given to their real concerns. Instead, the voices of those in economic misery and experiencing cultural stress have been labeled as ignorant, bigoted, and prejudiced. The concept of a shared society has not evolved as desired.

Trump answers this resentment by promoting the well being of the nation through a process of closing borders to illegal immigration and refugees and supporting exclusive policies of citizenship.  He stressed the importance of protecting the interests of American citizens against those who, in his view, denigrate the idea of American citizenship. He also privileges the rights of Americans over a more universalist concept of rights. His rhetoric about Hispanic and Muslim immigrants not only resonates with the perceptions of his supporters but also simultaneously increases their self-esteem.

This approach is firmly rooted in the nativist belief that cultural heritage, including history, values, and ethnic traditions, is fundamental to any nation and should be protected. It shields a nation from the threats and problems of globalism and mass migration. First, this approach contrasts corrupt political elites and the political establishment with the need for people to be represented by authentic leaders. Second, it puts the dominant, culturally homogenous majority, which is typically of European heritage and mostly raised in the Christian faith, against minorities, such as immigrants and other ethnic, racial, and religious groups, which serves to reinforce xenophobic sentiments. Third, it contrasts the interests of the nation and heightened border control with globalization equated with the dissolution of national identity and border permeability. Fourth, it declares “political correctness” and excessive liberal discourse as alien to the general population, which is overregulated and over controlled by social taboos.

Trump has artfully connected the frustrations of his supporters, their aggression, and their love for the United States. For him, the violence of angry people is justifiable because they are fighting for their vision of the country. Trump has shown his supporters how to address a number of issues and, in turn, be rewarded and gain power through the use of aggression. Throughout his campaign, Trump has swiftly responded to every accusation or insult from his opponents. These tactics leave Trump’s opponents open and unprepared to respond. The weakness of Trump’s opponent’s responses provide further evidence for his supporters that he is more powerful than his rivals. He also helps his supporters to channel the frustration they have for Obama’s immigration policies toward illegal immigrants.

Those who identify themselves with Trump receive the same social benefits derived from his insults as he does. Many Trump supporters “feed” on Trump’s insults to his/their adversaries in order to achieve similar feelings of high self-esteem and power, to stress difference with people they dislike, to emphasize their privileged position in comparison with others, to get rid of uncomfortable feelings of shame or guilt for inappropriate actions, and to feel validated in their views and positions. Trump supporters simultaneously benefit from and feel more empowered by his insults.

Trump supporters think the current establishment has no willingness to change or compromise; they trust that Trump will be able to undermine the confidence that other people continue to show toward the current political establishment in power, and thus, will bring his supporters to a long-standing victory. Trump supporters also feel he has been creating a degree of uncertainty among the established political elite by challenging their politically expedient ways of running the country.

The popularity of Trump has demonstrated that not only the importance of promoting education toward tolerance and mutual co-existence but that it is crucial to address issues of deindustrialization, job outsourcing, poverty and inequality, and low upward mobility. The United States  is a land of equal opportunity and freedom, where the “American dream” was and must be obtainable again for everyone of its citizens.
 

### This article represents ideas developed in the author’s book Trump Effect, published by Routledge in October 2016.