Journal of Transnational American Studies

This piece looks at the political use of (in)security discourse. MAGA has far exceeded the boundaries of the old Republican party; the big tent of the GOP now houses a wide range of political and ideological interests, all of which, while often contradictory, are sufficiently tied together with the string of fear and insecurity. The Democrats, on the other hand, have failed spectacularly in recognizing and utilizing the insecurity of the American people the way their Republican counterparts have done. Rather than responding with force, be it symbolic or real violence, this moment of collective affect demands reflection on the state of internal struggles Americans are facing, and requires exacting actions to see them through.