The journalist-analyst writes about the Politics of Cultural Despair Chris Hedges in his latest article about Trump’s victory in the US. He illuminates some of the causes of the Democrats’ defeat by referring to the “Trump syndrome.” We are republishing his article through him Media TV News .
Ultimately, the election was a desperation. Desperation for futures that evaporated with deindustrialization. Despair over the loss of 30 million jobs in mass layoffs. Desperation for austerity programs and the funneling of wealth upward into the hands of rapacious oligarchs. Desperation for a liberal class that refuses to acknowledge the suffering it caused under neoliberalism or to embrace New Deal-style programs that will ameliorate that misery. Despair over the futile, endless wars, as well as the genocide in Gaza, where generals and politicians are never held accountable. Desperation for a democratic system that has been taken over by corporate and oligarchic power.
This hopelessness exists in the bodies of the disenfranchised through opioid and alcohol addictions, gambling, mass shootings, suicides—especially among middle-aged white men—morbid obesity, and the investment of our emotional and spiritual lives in spectacle and glamour. of magical thinking, from the absurd promises of the Christian right to the belief that “reality is never an obstacle to our desires”. These are symptoms of a deeply diseased culture, what Friedrich Nietzsche calls aggressive despiritualized nihilism.
Donald Trump is a symptom of our sick society. He is not the cause of it. This is the vomit from decay. It expresses the childish longing to be some almighty god. This longing resonates with Americans who feel they have been treated like human waste. But the impossibility of being a god, as Ernest Becker writes, leads to its dark alternative—godlike destruction.
Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party, along with the Republican Party establishment, which allied itself with Harris, live in their own belief system that is not based in reality. Harris, who was anointed by party elites and never received a single vote, proudly touted her endorsement of Dick Cheney, a politician who left office with a 13 percent approval rating. The smug “moral” crusade against Trump has fueled the national reality television that has replaced journalism and politics. It reduces the social, economic and political crisis about Trump’s personality. It refuses to confront and name the corporate forces responsible for our failed democracy. It allows Democratic politicians to blithely ignore their base – 77% of Democrats and 62% of independents support an arms embargo against Israel. The open alliance with ”corporate oppression” and the refusal to consider the wants and needs of the electorate are sterilizing the press and Trump’s critics. These corporate puppets represent nothing but their own interests. The lies they tell working men and women, especially with programs like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), do far more damage than any of the lies Trump has told.
Oswald Spengler in “The Decline of the West” predicted that as Western democracies decay and die, a class of “undervalued thugs,” people like Trump, would replace traditional political elites. Democracy would become a fraud. Hatred would be cultivated and fueled by the masses.
The American dream has become an American nightmare.
Social ties, including the jobs that gave working Americans a sense of purpose and stability, that gave them meaning and hope, have been broken. The stagnation of tens of millions of lives, the realization that there will be no better tomorrow for their children, the predatory nature of our institutions, including education, health care and justice, have caused, along with despair, feelings of helplessness and humiliation . It has bred loneliness, frustration, anger and a sense of worthlessness.
Decayed societies, where a population is stripped of political, social and economic power, instinctively reach out to cult leaders. I watched it during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. The cult leader promises a return to a mythical golden age and vows, as Trump does, to crush the forces embedded in demonized groups and individuals he blames for their misery. The more outrageous the cult leaders become, the more cult leaders defy laws and social conventions, the more popular they become. Cult leaders are immune to the standards of established society. This is their appeal. Cult leaders seek absolute power. Their followers give them this power in the desperate hope that the cult leaders will save them.
All cults are personality cults. Cult leaders are narcissists. They demand absolute obedience. They reward loyalty over ability. They are in complete control. They do not tolerate criticism. They are deeply insecure, a trait they try to mask with excessive grandiosity. They are immoral and emotionally and physically abusive. They see those around them as objects to be manipulated for their own empowerment, pleasure and often, sadistic entertainment. All those outside the cult are labeled as forces of evil, causing an epic battle in which violence is its natural expression.
Whole segments of American society are now bent. They despise this world and all it has done to them. Their personal and political behavior is willfully suicidal. They seek to destroy, even if the destruction leads to violence and death. They are no longer sustained by the comforting illusion of human progress, missing the only antidote to nihilism.
In 1981 Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical entitled “Laborem exercens”, or ”Through work”. He attacked the idea, fundamental to capitalism, that work was simply an exchange of money for work. Work, he wrote, should not be limited to the commodification of people through wages. Employees are not impersonal tools to be manipulated like inanimate objects to increase profit. Work is essential to human dignity and self-fulfillment.
The Pope blamed unemployment, underemployment, insufficient wages, automation and lack of job security as violations of human dignity. These conditions, he wrote, were forces that negated self-esteem, personal satisfaction, responsibility, and creativity. Elevating the machine, he warned, reduces human beings to the status of slaves. He called for full-time employment, a minimum wage large enough to support a family, the right of a parent to stay home with children, and jobs and a living wage for the disabled. He advocated, to keep families strong, universal health insurance, pensions, accident insurance, and work schedules that allowed for leisure and vacations. He wrote that all workers should have the right to form unions with the ability to strike.
We must invest our energy in organizing mass movements to overthrow the corporate state through sustained acts of mass civil disobedience. This includes the most powerful weapon at our disposal – the strike. By directing our anger at the corporate state, we name the true sources of power and abuse. We reverse the absurdity of blaming our deaths on demonized groups such as undocumented immigrant workers, Muslims, or blacks. We make possible the restoration of an open society, one that serves the common good rather than corporate profit. We must demand nothing less than full employment, guaranteed minimum incomes, universal health insurance, free education at all levels, strong protection of the natural world, and an end to militarism and imperialism. We must create the possibility for a life of dignity, purpose and self-worth. If we don’t, we will ensure a Christianized fascism and ultimately, with accelerating ecocide, our extinction.
Time.news Interview with Chris Hedges: Understanding the Politics of Cultural Despair
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, Chris Hedges. Your recent article sheds light on the grief and despair that many Americans feel following Trump’s victory. What do you mean when you refer to this as the “Trump syndrome”?
Chris Hedges (CH): Thank you for having me. The “Trump syndrome” reflects a broader cultural and political malaise. It signifies that Trump isn’t just a political figure; he’s a symptom of a deeper societal decay. This decay arises from widespread disenfranchisement, loss of jobs due to deindustrialization, and a political structure that increasingly ignores the needs of the public in favor of corporate interests.
TNE: You describe the election as one steeped in desperation. Can you elaborate on those feelings and the consequences of abandonment by traditional political structures?
CH: Absolutely. Many Americans feel as if their futures have evaporated—whether it’s from the loss of jobs or the widening chasm between the wealthy and the working class. This has manifested in society through heightened levels of addiction, violence, and existential despair. People are searching for meaning amidst a culture that offers them little else than spectacle and distraction.
TNE: You mention the “despiritualized nihilism” discussed by Nietzsche. How does this concept relate to contemporary American culture under figures like Trump?
CH: Nietzsche’s idea of aggressive nihilism reflects a society that has lost its moral compass. When people feel powerless and disenfranchised, they often gravitate toward figures that promise them a return to greatness or security—even if those promises are empty. Trump embodies those misleading hopes, appealing to a collective desire for recognition and power in a society that feels increasingly alienated.
TNE: You were critical of established politicians like Kamala Harris. What role do you see them playing in this cultural despair?
CH: Politicians like Harris, who align themselves with entrenched corporate interests and dismiss the struggles of everyday Americans, perpetuate this cycle of despair. Their failure to engage with the public’s genuine grievances—like the demand for an arms embargo against Israel, which even a majority of Democrats support—creates a distance between them and their constituency. This disconnection fuels the rise of demagogues who exploit public dissatisfaction for their gain.
TNE: You discuss the emergence of “cult leaders” in destroyed societies. In what ways do you see this happening in the U.S.?
CH: History shows that when people are deprived of political, social, and economic power, they often turn to charismatic leaders who promise to restore their dignity and agency. Leaders like Trump capitalize on this vulnerability, using scapegoating and divisive rhetoric. This dynamic turns politics into a personality cult, where loyalty is more valued than ideas or policies, and dissent becomes increasingly dangerous.
TNE: You also touch on the emotional and psychological struggles many face today. What do you perceive as the underlying cause of these issues?
CH: The social fabric of America has frayed. Job security and meaningful work that once provided purpose are now little more than commodities. The exploitation of workers and the commodification of life have stripped many of their dignity and self-worth, which leads to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. This discontent, when left unaddressed, can lead to radical behavior and societal decay.
TNE: In your article, you mention the encyclical by Pope John Paul II. What lessons can be drawn from his views on work and dignity in this context?
CH: The Pope’s encyclical highlights that work should be about human dignity and fulfillment, not merely a transaction for profit. Today’s society often treats workers as expendable tools rather than valued contributors. This exploitation diminishes collective well-being and breeds resentment, as people feel replaced and disregarded. Recognizing work’s intrinsic value is vital for restoring dignity in this cultural landscape.
TNE: So, what would you suggest as realistic steps to combat this widespread despair and revitalize American society?
CH: We must first acknowledge the crisis honestly and allow space for genuine dialogue about discontent. Implementing policies akin to New Deal programs, which directly address the needs of the working class, can help mitigate some of this despair. Fostering community ties and investing in education, job security, and mental health resources would also be crucial in healing the wounds of our societal fractures.
TNE: Thank you, Chris, for sharing your insights on this complex but crucial topic. It’s clear that understanding the roots of cultural despair is essential for influencing positive change.
CH: Thank you for allowing me to discuss these critical issues. Engaging with these conversations is a step toward healing and rebuilding a society that recognizes the dignity of every individual.