Wronged and Dangerous: Viral Masculinity and the Populist Pandemic

Wronged and Dangerous: Viral Masculinity and the Populist Pandemic

Recent years have seen the rapid spread of far-right movements across the globe. Far beyond Donald Trump, these movements are reshaping the physical world in ways that pose danger to everyone, regardless of their politics. But how is this happening, and why with such speed? The shocking answer turns out to be aggrieved manhood gone viral, disguised as right-wing populism. Taking a fresh approach to global politics, Wronged and Dangerous refocuses divisions towards shared human interests. If you care about our common future, discover new ways to engage with the challenges of our time. “Connecting the pandemic-like spread of right-wing populism with aggrieved masculinity (i.e. “a seething sense of rightful virility wrongly denied”), Ashcraft’s Wronged and Dangerous makes a convincing argument for shifting studies of populism away from only considering issues of class.” Love Reading "But for Karen Ashcraft, the writing was on the wall. In fact, the writing was from a book she published two years ago, which warned that “viral masculinity” was a growing threat to young men and boys not just in the United States but worldwide." CU Boulder Today “Toxic masculinity is pervasive in contemporary politics and Ashcraft offers the best analysis to date. Wronged and Dangerous is also a sensitive engagement in the troubled politics of belonging, resentment, and anger.” Craig Calhoun, Arizona State University “At once personal, searching, and accessible, and often funny, Ashcraft’s gender analysis charts a humane path forward through the political storms of wounded masculinity.” John Durham Peters, Yale University “A unique, passionate reading of the entanglement of gender and New Populism, explaining how the infectious passion of aggrieved masculinity goes viral because it runs on a gender binary code.” Silvia Gherardi, University of Trento “Ashcraft's examination of the relationship of gender and class in our political moment is both urgent and brilliant. It is easily one of the best books on populism in recent years.” Joseph Lowndes, University of Oregon "Ashcraft’s persuasive account of how unhappy masculinities form the bedrock of right-wing populism provides cause for concern: misogynistic dragons we thought had been slain are now rousing. Aimed at an intelligent, general readership, it is a manifesto and call to action; intellectually rigorous, compassionate, thought-provoking and an excellent read. Its ideas should become part of our everyday conversations." Nancy Harding, University of Bath "Ashcraft’s persuasive account of how unhappy masculinities form the bedrock of right-wing populism provides cause for concern: misogynistic dragons we thought had been slain are now rousing. Aimed at an intelligent, general readership, it is a manifesto and call to action; intellectually rigorous, compassionate, thought-provoking and an excellent read. Its ideas should become part of our everyday conversations." Nancy Harding, University of Bath Karen Lee Ashcraft is Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder. She grew up in the lap of white evangelical populism and her research examines how gender interacts with race, class, sexuality, and more to shape organizational and cultural politics.