Trumpism on College Campuses

Author ORCID Identifier

Jeffrey Kidder:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5426-9353

Publication Title

Qualitative Sociology

ISSN

01620436

E-ISSN

15737837

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In this paper, we report data from interviews with members of conservative political clubs at four flagship public universities. First, we categorize these students into three analytically distinct orientations regarding Donald Trump and his presidency (or what we call Trumpism). There are principled rejecters, true believers, and satisficed partisans. We argue that Trumpism is a disunifying symbol in our respondents’ self-narratives. Specifically, right-leaning collegians use Trumpism to draw distinctions over the appropriate meaning of conservatism. Second, we show how political clubs sort and shape orientations to Trumpism. As such, our work reveals how student-led groups can play a significant role in making different political discourses available on campuses and shaping the types of activism pursued by club members—both of which have potentially serious implications for the content and character of American democracy moving forward.

First Page

145

Last Page

163

Publication Date

6-1-2020

DOI

10.1007/s11133-020-09446-z

Keywords

American politics, Conservatism, Culture, Higher education, Identity, Organizations

Department

Department of Sociology

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