An American Coup: Reflections on Trumpism and the January 6 Insurrection

On January 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. They vandalized the capitol building, attacked police officers, planted bombs, and threatened elected officials. So far, five people have died from this assault; at least three congresspeople have contracted Covid-19. Donald Trump and his allies in Congress and the press encouraged anti-democratic insurrection in an effort to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election. How do we make sense of this attempted coup? What are the implications of widespread suspicion and sedition for the future of American democracy? What are the origins of a right-wing authoritarianism in the United States that predates Donald Trump? How might we situate this event within histories of right-wing extremism, neoliberal austerity, mass incarceration, and America’s ‘illiberal tradition’? Julilly Kohler-Hausman (Cornell University), Russell Kazal (UTSC), Alexandra Rahr (UT), and Max Mishler (UT) offered some initial reflections on the January 6 insurrection and engaged in a dialogue before questions and comments from the audience.

Sponsored by the Centre for the Study of the United States.