Fascist-characters reject even authoritarian leaders they deem insufficiently powerful

Evidence

Under the heading `usurper complex’, Adorno gave a pointed example of the way in which the fascist character had a correct instinct for joining the ranks of the rebels against democratic civilization and identifying with stronger forces. People whose thoughts focused on power and violence saw Roosevelt’s policies as a distinct form of dictatorship, but nevertheless failed to give him wholehearted support. Adorno tried to explain this by saying that the Roosevelt administration was never really strong enough in their view. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1796

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the ‘usurper complex’: power-obsessed characters identify with strength and despise anything short of it.
• QUESTION: Worth chasing: did Adorno apply the usurper complex to any specifically anti-Roosevelt political figures in the interviews?
• XREF: connects to: Strong character-based needs drive opposition to authoritarian regimes; Extremists remain authoritarian while rejecting normal authorities as betrayers of true ones; Authoritarians adopt their authorities’ enemies rather than reasoning independently. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1672 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Extremists remain authoritarian while rejecting normal authorities as betrayers of true ones #corroborates (0.85)
• Strong character-based needs drive opposition to authoritarian regimes #corroborates (0.80)
• Authoritarians adopt their authorities’ enemies rather than reasoning independently. #expands (0.75) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1672