Sharon Kennedy: The nature of mass movements

Recently I received an email from a reader who introduced me to “The True Believer” a nonfiction book by Eric Hoffer and published in 1951. I haven’t as yet read it, but according to Google, “It’s a philosophical treatise that explores the question of why ordinary people join mass movements and become fanatical devotees of what they perceive as a holy cause.” If this doesn’t define participants in the MAGA movement, I don’t know what does.

Hoffer states that, “Mass movements begin with a widespread desire for change from discontented people who feel powerless and believe their lives are irredeemably spoiled. They have no hope for advancement or satisfaction as an individual, thus true believers seek ‘self-renunciation’ [rejection of a belief and a course of action]. Effective leaders are vital in the growth of a mass movement, and success is largely dependent upon the seeds that already exist in the heart of each person.”

Creating a mass movement isn’t limited to any one particular disgruntled segment of the population. Leaders of a specific community can have a positive effect on their people by encouraging the resurrection of customs and traditions. This sort of mini-movement is apparent within Indigenous tribes reclaiming their Native language and culture. Members who chose to identify with a clan and take an Indian name are expressing pride in their heritage.

I use the Native American population as an example of a worthwhile movement because I’ve seen quantum leaps from the time I was young to today. Leaders rose up in my area and demanded their rights. They did not riot or burn down their communities. They did not desecrate important buildings. They organized and created a movement that improved the lives of individuals on their reservations. This has not happened in all Native communities. I’m limiting my observations to the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula.

What’s the difference between their movement and MAGA’s? Take a look at the leaders and you’ll have your answer. In one instance, change came through negotiations and reparations based on documented historical mistreatment. In another, the driving force was loss of political power by a despot. Trump convinced MAGAs he is their only hope for our country. Most followers have no idea what that means. Unlike Indigenous leaders who took up a viable cause, DJT runs on rage and lies. His words are not grounded in facts but emotions. When a mob is stirred into a frenzy by the goading of its commander, atrocious acts will be committed just to please him.

Another way of expressing Hoffer’s definition of a mass movement is when the leader taps into the frustration of an angry multitude who believe radical change is necessary to give them a sense of importance. The adrenaline rush must have been off the charts when rioters broke through the barriers, clubbed the guards, climbed the Capitol walls and called for the hanging of Mike Pence. I imagine they felt invincible as they rushed into the Senate chambers and stopped the count. Dick “Bigo” Barnett laughed as he sat in Speaker Pelosi’s chair. Is he still laughing as he sits in a federal prison cell?

According to some reviews of Hoffer’s book, “True believers yearn for certainty and fear ambiguity. Such radical political extremists see the world in black and white, right and wrong. These people will follow orders to their death. True believers revel in belonging to what they consider an exclusive group, and no price is too great to pay.” A mass movement driven by a tyrant will destroy democracy. If that’s your goal, then Trump’s your man.

— To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email at sharonkennedy1947@gmail.com. Kennedy's new book, "View from the SideRoad: A Collection of Upper Peninsula Stories," is available from her or Amazon.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Sharon Kennedy: The nature of mass movements