The Republican's love for dictators and despots is nothing new ( lemmy.ca )
The book "America Last" argues that American conservatives have a long history of supporting right-wing dictators.
The author, Jacob Heilbrunn, traces this back to the early 20th century, when some US conservatives admired Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II. This pattern continued with figures like Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, who were seen as strong leaders who could restore order and combat leftist movements.
The Cold War saw a resurgence of this trend, with the US government under Reagan supporting right-wing dictators in Latin America and elsewhere. Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, Pat Buchanan kept this flame alive by advocating for figures like Slobodan Milosevic.
Heilbrunn argues that Donald Trump's admiration for dictators like Vladimir Putin is not a new phenomenon, but rather part of a long-standing conservative tradition. This tradition is based on a rejection of liberalism and a desire for a strong, white ethno-nationalist leader.
The book acknowledges that financial interests also play a role, with lobbyists and consultants sometimes working for dictators regardless of ideology. However, Heilbrunn emphasizes the ideological connection between American conservatives and right-wing dictators.
