The Conflicted Origins of Sociology

The presidential call for “unity” is a bipartisan tradition. After Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Barack Obama urged Americans to cultivate “a sense of unity.” Joe Biden made a “plea for national unity” the centerpiece of his 2021 inauguration, and Trump referred to unity as the theme of both his inaugural addresses. Trump was criticized for his hypocrisy in being so divisive himself, but I take him at his word: The Trumpist fantasy is premised on the creation of a particularly cruel united front in which his foes are liquidated, leaving behind only his ardent supporters. (Indeed, his proud declaration of hate for his enemies at the memorial for Charlie Kirk might as well amount to a call for togetherness in the conservative ranks.)