Are Trump's policies driven by an emotional desire for control, strength and dominance? | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Hyper-masculinity: A performance of traditional masculinity characterized by a lack of emotional regulation, intuition-driven actions, and a focus on dominance and strength.
• Traditional Masculinity: The original notion of what manhood is, what it means to be a man.
• Emotional Capital: The ability to understand, manage, and utilize emotions effectively.
• Zero-Sum Contest: A situation where one party's gain is necessarily another party's loss.
• Gender Essentialism: The belief that genders have inherent, fixed traits and behaviors.
• Reality TV Diplomacy/Social Media Diplomacy: The evolution of diplomacy for public consumption.
• Econometrics: The application of statistical methods to economic data.

1. Definition and Characteristics of Hyper-Masculinity

• Alice Lassman defines hyper-masculinity as a performance of traditional masculinity, not necessarily being traditionally masculine, but performing that so that other people can perceive you that way.
• Traditional masculinity involves a lack of emotional regulation and acting through intuition rather than calculation.
• Hyper-masculinity is exemplified by preemptive attacks and a refusal to back down or show weakness.
• Rory Stewart, an ex-MP in the UK, described it as a strategy of showing how much of a tough guy one is.

2. Examples and Case Studies

• Iran: The US strikes on Iran are cited as an example of hyper-masculinity in foreign policy, particularly the notion of refusing to back down or show weakness.
• China: The US-China tariff war is another example, with Trump's administration taking a belligerent stance.
• General Michael Carrilla: The commander of the United States Central Command, was described as having a "lethality brand," suggesting that traditionally masculine men are trusted more.

3. Impact on Diplomacy and Governance

• Hyper-masculinity reduces governance and international relations to a zero-sum contest of winning or losing.
• This approach can have negative consequences for human suffering in war and conflict.
• It contrasts with the historical US moral architecture established by Dwight D. Eisenhower, which emphasized avoiding preemptive wars.
• Diplomacy has evolved into "reality TV diplomacy" and "social media diplomacy," making it more public and performative.

4. Gender Dynamics and Leadership

• Gender essentialism is on the rise, with genders being distilled to their roots.
• Women in leadership positions may adopt masculine traits due to the historical dominance of masculinity in leadership.
• Alternative leadership styles, such as Angela Merkel's technocratic, fact-driven approach and Mark Carney's use of econometrics, offer alternatives to hyper-masculine leadership.

5. Political Appeal and Electoral Success

• Strongmen are increasingly being elected in countries like the US, Argentina, India, Hungary, and Turkey.
• Voters, particularly young men, may be drawn to leaders who reflect and perform their emotions and suffering.
• The American Men Project found that young men often feel disaffected and unrepresented by the Democratic Party, even while supporting progressive values.

6. Positive Aspects and Democratic Implications

• Hyper-masculine diplomacy can be more transparent, with leaders posting in real-time on platforms like Truth Social.
• This increased transparency can make diplomacy more democratic by allowing the public to participate in the process.

7. Synthesis/Conclusion

Hyper-masculinity in foreign policy and leadership is a complex phenomenon with both potential benefits and drawbacks. While it may appeal to certain segments of the electorate and offer increased transparency, it also risks oversimplifying complex issues, exacerbating conflicts, and perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes. The rise of hyper-masculine leadership reflects a broader trend of emotional expression and performance in politics, but it is essential to consider alternative leadership styles that prioritize emotional regulation, fact-based decision-making, and inclusive governance.