Trump, The Real Personalist, Might Not Win

Many people believe Donald Trump is a personalist because his leadership style prioritizes loyalty to him above all else—over political ideology, party platforms, or even institutional rules . He has reshaped the Republican Party into what scholars describe as a "personal political vehicle," where control is maintained through unwavering fealty rather than traditional party structures. Ultimately, the perception stems from how Trump has centralized power around his persona, making himself the singular focus of his political movement. In this episode, Professor Seva Gunitsky, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto, joins the latest show to talk more. His work examines how international forces like war and globalization shape democracy and domestic reforms.