Abstract

This volume seeks to analyze contemporary politics through the works of many of the greatest political thinkers. It focuses on the socio-political context surrounding Trump. Prominent are three contemporary questions: Why did voters support Trump? Is there a Trumpian ideology, and if so, what is it? And how do the motivations of Trump supporters connect with his agenda? Other themes discussed here are: What does patriotism mean in a globalized world? To what extent does Trump’s rise force us to question the relationship between one’s own and universal values? And finally, does the support of Trump's voters indicate civic health or political decay? The essays connect explanations of Trumpism to debates about the ends of the state and human nature. The essays approach these questions from two broad perspectives. On the one side are analyses of the rational motives explaining the rise of Trump. On the other side, there are essays focusing on subrational features behind Trump's support.