Anger, Fear, Domination: Dark Passions and the Power of Political Speech -- William a. Galston, Hardcover

A renowned political theorist offers a road map to the dark forces that threaten democracy

Liberalism orients itself around the idea of self-interest tempered by reason, with the addition of civically useful emotions such as patriotism, self-sacrifice, and empathy. But the politics dominating much of the world shows that these ideals are not enough. William A. Galston argues that the defense of liberal democracy requires understanding the dark forces whose impact on political life liberal democratic institutions seek to mute: the emotions of fear, humiliation, anger, resentment, and hatred, and the drive to dominate. In hard or threatening times, it is these dark passions that most reliably persuade people and move them to action--whether voting or violence.

Throughout the democratic world, these institutional defenses are now being tested by a new generation of demagogues. With a keen awareness of the stakes, Galston explains why countering this dangerous development requires not only more responsive public policies but persuasive rhetoric and a realistic conception of political psychology--one that is free of the illusion that reason or affirmative sentiments such as empathy, solidarity, and love can reliably dominate public affairs.

Author: William a. Galston
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 09/02/2025
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780300282290

About the Author
William A. Galston holds the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in the Brookings Institution's Governance Studies Program, where he serves as a senior fellow. His books include Anti-Pluralism: The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy. He lives in Bethesda, MD.