The Rage of The Elite
摘要
This chapter addresses the essential coalition—and contradiction—between the populist right and the Silicon Valley elite in supporting Donald Trump. This is the combination of the anti-progressive, anti-liberal-democratic, anti-globalist, nativist public, and the anti-progressive, anti-democratic, but pro-global neo-liberal economic elite. Whilst the public desired a return to domestic focus and state support, the elite aimed for a radical neo-liberal restructuring that minimised state intervention. This divergence stems from differing interpretations of ‘disruption’, with the public seeking re-engagement from the state and the elite pursuing an ‘exit’ strategy. We profile the key rageful players here, including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, showcasing their ideological shifts and contributions to the ‘broligarchy’, namely which leverages technology and anti-democratic sentiments to further its goals. This chapter concludes by considering the potential for the fracturing of this coalition, and the prospects of this rage being turned back on Trump.