Reading Substacks and watching YouTube and Rumble videos lately, it seems there are a new batch of “public intellectuals” who a few years ago would probably have just been moderately popular and influential.
The terms 'mass formation' and 'mass formation psychosis' have been coined by Dr. Mattis Desmet, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Ghent, Belgium. He published his theories in "The Psychology of Totalitarianism" last year. The philosopher, psychoanalyst, and professor Thierry Simonelli wrote a critical review of Desmet's book: https://www.thsimonelli.net/the-strange-epidemic-of-mass-formation-hypnosis/.
I would add Dr. John Campbell, Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou (together, The Duran), Whitney Webb, Abby Martin, Scott Ritter, Garland Nixon, Danny Haiphong, Larry Johnson, Ray McGovern, Col. Douglas McGregor, even Jordan Peterson, to your list of “public intellectuals”. All have been marginalized for uncovering and publishing inconvenient truths. Not to mention all the comedians who have led the way in criticizing the dominant narrative.
The terms 'mass formation' and 'mass formation psychosis' have been coined by Dr. Mattis Desmet, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Ghent, Belgium. He published his theories in "The Psychology of Totalitarianism" last year. The philosopher, psychoanalyst, and professor Thierry Simonelli wrote a critical review of Desmet's book: https://www.thsimonelli.net/the-strange-epidemic-of-mass-formation-hypnosis/.
I would add Dr. John Campbell, Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou (together, The Duran), Whitney Webb, Abby Martin, Scott Ritter, Garland Nixon, Danny Haiphong, Larry Johnson, Ray McGovern, Col. Douglas McGregor, even Jordan Peterson, to your list of “public intellectuals”. All have been marginalized for uncovering and publishing inconvenient truths. Not to mention all the comedians who have led the way in criticizing the dominant narrative.
Thanks for the background, Mark. I agree with your list and would add Max Blumenthal, Anya Parampil, and other Grayzone journalists to the list.