This book analyzes Donald Trump's three electoral campaigns - 2016, 2020, and 2024 - and exposes the hidden networks of power that shape modern campaigns and politics. The author maps the influence of financial oligarchs, deep state agencies, tech moguls, and celebrity elites, revealing how populist narratives intersect with corporate lobbying, military and intelligence continuity, and fragmented mass media.

Blending cultural and structural perspectives, the book explains how Trump, often seen as an "outsider," was able to simultaneously serve entrenched interests. Each chapter examines critical turning points, from early endorsements and mainstream coverage to digital echo chambers, polling failures, and escalating conspiracy theories, culminating in Trump's victory in 2024.

The book concludes with an assessment of democracy's resilience in an age of misinformation, economic inequality, and strategic realignment. It will appeal to scholars, students, and researchers in political science and related fields, as well as policymakers and the general public interested in better understanding the shifting power structures that underpin American democracy.

Presents the hidden power networks shaping modern campaigns and politics through Trump's electoral races Analyzes how populist narratives intersect with corporate lobbying and fragmented mass media Examines democracy's resilience amid misinformation, economic inequality, and strategic realignments

Autorentext

Lisheng Dong is a Professor of Political Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. In 2012, he received the Pierre de Celle Award for the best paper from the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration. Since 2015, he has been Chair Professor and Visiting Professor at the Universities of Glasgow (UK), Tartu (Estonia), and Zurich (Switzerland). He is also a former Dean and Professor at the Department of Government and Public Policy, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Lisheng Dong has published 21 academic books and 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and contributed chapters to 23 books.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Introduction: Democracy at a Threshold--Trump, Populism, and the Architecture of Power.- Part I: The Cultural and Information Battleground.- Chapter 2. Academic Elites and the Power of Knowledge.- Chapter 3. Celebrity Influence and Entertainment Politics.- Chapter 4. Mainstream Media, Agenda-Setting, and Fake News.- Chapter 5. Elon Musk and Trump's Return to the White House.- Part II: Tech Titans and Global Reverberations.- Chapter 6. Tech Titans in the Political Arena.- Chapter 7. Global Reactions and International Media Coverage.- Part III: Polling, Legal Challenges, and Political Violence.- Chapter 8. Polling Failures and the Mirage of Public Opinion.- Chapter 9. Legal Controversies, Impeachments, and Political Persecution.- Chapter 10. Violent Flashpoints and Conspiracy Theories.- Part IV: Deep Structural Power and Societal Realignment.- Chapter 11. Cryptocurrency as Rebellion: Grassroots Populism and Monetary Dissent.- Chapter 12. Cryptocurrency as Strategy: Elite Realignment and the Weaponization of Digital.- Chapter 13. Political Fractures Across Generations and Identities.- Chapter 14. Identity Politics and Democratic Fragmentation: Navigating Divisions in the Trump Era.- Part V: Integration, Polarization, and Democratic Futures.- Chapter 15. The Evolution of Trumpism: From Disruption to Institutionalization.- Chapter 16. Shadow State and Democratic Resistance: Bureaucracy, Oligarchy, and Reform in a Post-Trump World.- Chapter 17. American Caesarism and Institutional Erosion: How Populism Coexists with Elite Rule.- Chapter 18. Polarization, Paralysis, and the Future of American Democracy.- Chapter 19. The Techno-Political Horizon: Digital Sovereignty, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Power.- Chapter 20. Conspiracy, Disinformation, and the Erosion of Trust.- Chapter 21. Conclusion: The Struggle for the Democratic Imagination.