Eric Hoffer in “True Believer” offers an explanation. Mass movements are appealing to individuals who want to escape a flawed self by creating an imaginary self and joining a collective whole. See both Elizabeth Warren as an example and Wikipedia: Eric Hoffer and “True Believer”.
Yes, but firstly he was talking about collectivist fanatics. If we were talking about conservatives versus communists, okay. But it’s conservatives versus liberals. Certainly they are relative mass men, but not to that degree.
On the average liberals are of the people and conservatives aristocratic. But we stereotypically like Fourth of July parades and if I watch Hannity, for instance, are increasingly nationalistic. Plus we love the terms limousine liberals and ivy tower elitists. Granted, we mean to say they’re fake elitists and maybe didn’t earn their limousines.