Is the United States a thriving democracy, transitioning to fascism, or already a fascist state? You may use news stories (ju
a link in parentheses, no bibliography required), and must use lectures and specific readings to defend your position.
Essays should be structured as follows: (grading rubric on p. 3)
1) Introduction: In your opinion is the United States a) a thriving democracy, b) in transition from democracy to authoritaria
already fascist. Use at least 2 specific points from the lecture and readings to justify your opinion.
2) Choose one of the following based on your opinion in the introduction:
a. If you chose “already fascist,” explain the difference between fascist government,
fascist ideology, and fascist tactics. Then list 3 specific fascist tactics, explain what they are in general, and give an examp
practice to demonstrate how they evidence a fascist United States.
b. If you chose “in transition,” explain changes in 2 forms of institutional political participation and 2 forms of noninstitutionz
participation that have changed during the transition and/or describe inequalities and problems with participation (e.g. vote
suppression).
c. If you chose “thriving democracy,” explain 2 forms of institutional political participation and 2 forms of noninstitutional pol
participation that evidence a thriving American democracy.
3) Which theoretical framework on political participation in general (Ch 6) and voting and elections in particular (Ch 7) infor
opinion about where the US falls on the spectrum from democracy to fascism? You may also draw on the Arendt and Ges:
readings here.
4) Describe the imagined community of “America.” Then, choose one of the following, based on which one best flows from
previous paragraphs and helps to justify your assertion from the introduction:
a) What is gendered or muscular nationalism and how does its presence or absence in
the US support your opinion on where the US falls on the spectrum of democracy to
fascism?
b) Explain and give an example of the myth-symbol complex in the development of sotpeste ele cdows
white nationalism in the United States and explain how this either fosters the transition to fascism or shows that even with
white supremacist violence, the US is still more democratic than fascist overall.
Sample Solution