Authoritarians Weapons – Hierarchy
Hierarchy establishes the organizational framework that positions some humans as inherently more valuable than others, creating the ideological justification for unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and political power. This feature involves social classes. Social class is often misunderstood and misrepresented in education. Very few people in education have a good handle on hierarchical class structure. We have found one good book on class and class culture. This book is Class: A Guide Through the American Status System is a nonfiction book by Paul Fussell originally published in 1983 by Simon & Schuster.
There is also a book called the Preppy hand book. It is a good guide for moving up in the world. A bit outdated now, however many of the principles of behavior are noted.
Paul Fussell Class System overview
This is a quick over view of the class systems and how each type of dictatorship use them.
- Upper Out of Sight class – Very Old money or very rich and titled nobility, you will never see them. Examples: Downton Abby and folks who have large plots of land in several countries. Authoritarian leaders are often unaware of these people as they keep well hidden!
- Upper Upper Class – Sort of Old money – This group of people have had money for around 3 generations. Their children go to prep schools. For example the TV show series Gossip Girl. Authoritarian leaders turn them into minions or leave them alone as they are not concerned with government issues. They will go where they feel free. Examples: Newport and New York upper east side folks. They send their children to preppy schools. Children are sent to Europe for their grand tour.
- Lower Upper Class – New money types, like to show their wealth off and are into flash and bling. Generally they are the first or second generation of the rich new money. They may have had a parent who earned money. Many of the new billionaires are found in this class. They love greed and money. They are not into helping others, except to earn more money.
Middle Class Hierarchy
- Upper Middle Class – This class declines under authoritarian leaders. For example these are your Doctors and lawyers who are successful. Yes, their children go to prep schools. Authoritarian leaders like to turn the lawyers into minions. They are often taxed the most due to their earnings
- Middle Middle Class – One of the largest classes of citizens. These are your folks who earn wages and do most of the work in a country. They range from mechanics, nurses, pencil pushers and middle management types. This class is where most authoritarian leaders come from historical. They maybe one or two generations from immigrants. For example, Hitler and Trump. This group is the largest class in most societies. For example, many politicians are from this class. Thus they are easy to manipulate by money and fame. They make up most of the tax base for most countries.
- Lower Middle Class – This is another large group citizens. Their education is in public schools, they are not your fortunate sons and daughters. They are lucky to finish high school or college. Thus, this group often become the authoritarian leaders enforcers. They get wages and often settle for less.
The Lower Class
- Upper Lower Class – These are your immigrants and those without valuable skills. They are lucky to earn a living. They are prey for the predators who exist in other classes. The schools often channelize them with large classrooms and lower quality teachers.
- Lower Lower Class – This is the sad class those who do the dirtiest jobs with no skills other than manual labor.
- Lower Out of Sight class – These are your homeless folks you see on the streets.
But wait there is one more class
The last class is the X Class. Per Paul Fussell, these are the folks who reject class behaviors They often come from all the other classes. They are the artist, the designers, the college professors and people who don’t fit into a class behavior. For example X class members often have a wide range of knowledge and creativity. Consequently, they are hated by authoritarian leaders because they see what authoritarian types are about. Often the authoritarian leaders come after them and make them targets of their hate. Correspondingly, authoritarian mock their art and skills.
How Authoritarians use Class and Hierarchy
Per the class structure, most of the authoritarian dictator leaders have come from their counties middle middle class. They suffer envy of those who are wealthy and upper class. Then there is the narcissistic needs, they want glory and attention. They often find ways to gain social knowledge to be able to manipulate others. Thus by displaying things that make them look wealthy is cool to them. Using money, they feel they can buy status in society.
Once in power as authoritarian leader they are fearful of those who have talent. Authoritarian leader will often change those around them often as they fear the talented. They are obsessed with image. Authoritarian leader love the strong man image. Therefore, they will use the different classes weaknesses as outlined above as minions, flying monkeys and enforcers.
But, the reality of authoritarian types
They are weak and goof up.
Where to learn more
Read and study. Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s books are a good start.
