The Best of the Worst: Early Twentieth Century America’s Application of Authoritarianism

Author: Bodhi Lee

Field of Study: Political Science

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 30

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Due to the state of the current American political climate, there is a tendency to compare it to the fascist regimes in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. What gets less attention, is what the U.S. was doing during this first wave of autocratization. This includes groups like the KKK, the anti-communists, and America’s own brand of fascism. Thus, this paper's analysis will be centered on comparing these key authoritarian players in the U.S. and will involve both primary and scholarly sources. While the groups have some clear distinctions, by considering their organizational structure, tactics, and even personnel, there may be room to extrapolate about how the unique aspects of the U.S affects authoritarian movements to the present day, as well as how authoritarian movements interact with one another.