The paranoid style in american politics is an essay by american historian richard j hofstadter first published in harpers magazine in november 1964 it was the title essay of a book by the author in the same year published soon after senator barry goldwater won the republican presidential nomination over the more moderate nelson a rockefeller hofstadters article explores the influence of a particular style of conspiracy theory and movements of suspicious discontent throughout americ. The paranoid style in american politics it had been around a long time before the radical right discovered it and its targets have ranged from the international bankers to masons jesuits and munitions makers a merican politics has often been an arena for angry minds. The paranoid style in american politics this essay is a revised ii1d expanded version of the herllert spencer lectttte delivered at oxford. This timely reissue of richard hofstadters classic work on the fringe groups that influence american electoral politics offers an invaluable perspective on contemporary domestic affairsin the paranoid style in american politics acclaimed historian richard hofstadter examines the competing forces in american political discourse and how fringe groups can influence and derail the larger agendas of a political party he investigates the politics of the irrational shedding light on