Donald Trump and the denial machine : institutionalizing the U.S. Climate Change Countermovement
Item Description
An organized countermovement has developed to misinform the public, distort climate science and oppose energy rationing regulations. I examine the ways in which Donald Trump and his administration are a part of the United States Climate Change Countermovement (CCCM) and consider the implications for the Climate Change Movement (CCM). I conducted a content analysis of Trump’s campaign speeches to explore how his campaign rhetoric relates to countermovement claims. I also completed a network analysis of three federal agency landing teams, considering the social, political and economic ties that exist between core organizations in the CCCM and members of the Trump Administration. I argue that the CCCM has captured the federal agencies most responsible for issues pertaining to energy and environment. I also argue that Trump’s promotion of American Exceptionalism, abundance, and prosperity works to institutionalize the Human Exemptionalism Paradigm within the federal government. Throughout this thesis, I strive to make sense of how the 2016 U.S. presidential election will hold historic importance for national and global climate change mitigation efforts.
If you have questions about permitted uses of this content, please contact the Arminda administrator: http://works.whitman.edu/contact-arminda