The targeting of Jill Stein and the Green Party as still another ridiculous part of the supposed Russian conspiracy represents a dangerous turn. This should be clear to anyone who has even the slightest acquaintance with history which is replete with examples of the abuse of power when leveled against those considered a threat to the status quo. The psychological, social and political dynamics at play must be exposed in order to mount vigorous resistance.

Malignant Narcissism and the Projection of Evil

In a previous article, I discussed the prevalence of malignant narcissism in our society due to its endorsement of a neoliberal ideology. The work of the sociologist and psychoanalyst, Erich Fromm, was instrumental in explicating what malignant narcissism is and how it is fostered by social conditions and values. A key point necessary to understanding malignant narcissism is that behind the grandiosity, exaggerated self-esteem, and extreme sense of entitlement presented by such individuals is a deep insecurity and self-contempt. The façade of confidence and superiority is intended to defend these individuals against anything that might expose their imperfections or failures. When confronted by possible exposure either by events or other individuals, they respond to such “attacks” on their self-image as intolerable.

This point is further elaborated by M. Scott Peck in his book, People of the Lie. He says that what characterizes evil people (those who demonstrate a pattern of malignant narcissism) is their utter failure and refusal to recognize their imperfections and any hint of guilt for their misdeeds. Another predominant characteristic of these individuals is to lash out at anyone who criticizes them. Because they believe themselves to be above reproach, they project their contempt and hatred outward out into the world and, more particularly, toward those they regard as their attackers. They would rather villainize others and portray them as dangerous threats than to face up to their own failings. These attacks are often carried out with a sense of self-righteousness which only adds to their disingenuousness.

There is substantial evidence that the origins of Russia-gate can be found in providing a seemingly plausible “excuse” for the abysmal failure of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Rather than take responsibility for this failure, Hillary Clinton and her supporters chose to engage in the very dynamics described above. In doing so, a highly questionable and clearly destructive narrative began — a narrative whose consequences have only grown progressively worse.

Group Narcissism, Scapegoating and Oppression

Erich Fromm asserted that the same dynamics that give rise to malignant narcissism in an individual can also result in group narcissism. In other words, a group of individuals consider themselves to be superior, morally pure and above reproach. Such in-groups need to maintain their exaggerated sense of goodness and importance by having an out-group on which to heap contempt, humiliation and aggression. At this point, it is not merely psychological dynamics at play. Rather social, economic and political factors are at work. The goal is now to ensure that the status quo in which the in-group is invested and with which it is identified is defended as perfect, superior and above reproach.

Again as I described in another article, Russia-gate employs well-established methods of propaganda to create a false sense of crisis and in doing so stoke fears and anxieties that misdirect the attention of the “masses” away from where the actual dangers exist. Instead an enemy must be manufactured or what Stanley Cohen in his work on moral panics called “folk devils”. These folk devils are portrayed as posing an unacceptable threat to prevailing societal interests and values. This strategy is neither inconsequential nor innocuous. The social psychologist, Erwin Staub, has analyzed how it can lead to large-scale oppression and violence, including genocide. He observes that when a group of individuals encounter a period of time that poses difficult life conditions, they experience a heightened state of frustration, insecurity and fear. In order to restore a sense of control and preserve a sense of worth and value, they try to mask their own sense of suffering by directing harm on a scapegoat group.

Sadly, history is filled with examples of this destructive pattern. One such example has been the eruption of violence toward women considered to be witches. A careful examination of these outbreaks of suspicion and violence reveals that the targets were chosen because they posed a threat to the status quo — whether that was the clergy or men who saw what were often folk healers a threat to their practice of what was then considered medicine. The Inquisition and Holocaust reveal large-scale violence done in the name of protecting society from those deemed demonic.

Woodrow Wilson, the Creel Commission and the Red Scare

Does Russia-gate really pose that sort of threat? Again, I believe history answers that question sadly in the affirmative. Noam Chomsky states that the first state propaganda agency in the U.S. was the Committee on Public Information or Creel Commission. It was formed by Woodrow Wilson in order to shape public opinion in support of the U.S. entry into World War I. In order to reverse the wide antipathy of the country regarding intervention, propaganda was used to portray the Germans as committing barbarous acts of inhumanity. However, more was at work than merely ensuring that business interests would benefit from war.

At the same time as the Creel Commission was formed, the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act were passed in order to launch a full-scale assault on freedom of speech and to scale back the gains that were being made by the Socialist Party and the labor movement. The Socialist Party not coincidentally included a large number of German-Americans. There was opposition to war voiced by both the Socialist Party and many labor unions. Any protest against the war was regarded as treason and undermining the war effort. As described in his book, Democracy’s Prisoner, Ernest Freeberg reports that strict censorship was imposed and the First Amendment was seriously undermined. Thousands of people were imprisoned, including the notable Socialist leader Eugene Debs. The objective was not merely to pave the way to war, but to destroy the Socialist Party and thwart the labor movement. Prior to these efforts, there were 150,000 members of the Socialist Party in the U.S. Socialists were elected to a wide range of government positions including alderman, mayors, and state representatives. There were 13 daily Socialist newspapers, one of which had a circulation of over 700,000. Following the actions of the Wilson administration, the Socialist Party was only a shadow of what it had once been.

It Can Happen Today

With efforts now being directed toward Jill Stein and the Green Party, the echoes of the past are becoming frightening clear. There is a growing realization among the Republicans and the Corporate Democrats that the Progressive movement is something to be taken seriously. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Emperor has no clothes. We must learn from history and from what psychology and the study of oppression has to offer. There is no need for history to repeat itself.