McCarthyism and the politics of fear

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McCarthyism and the politics of fear

Published: 09 Feb. 2026, 00:05

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Roh Jeong-tae

The author is a writer and senior fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.

“Today, I have in my hand a list of 205 communists in the State Department.”

On Feb. 9, 1950, Washington was shaken by a speech from Joseph McCarthy, a first-term Republican senator from Wisconsin. His claim marked the beginning of McCarthyism, a campaign that would dominate American politics for four years and leave lasting scars long afterward.

Former U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy. [WIKIPEDIA]

The political climate favored McCarthy. In 1949, China fell to communism, and the Soviet Union successfully tested a nuclear weapon, heightening American fears of a growing ideological threat. When the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, and communist forces continued to gain ground in Eastern Europe and China, many Americans felt deep anxiety and frustration.

Domestic politics also played a role. In 1948, congressional hearings revealed that Alger Hiss, an elite diplomat once favored by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, had acted as a Soviet spy. The revelation provided Republicans with a powerful opportunity to challenge the Democratic establishment that had led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.

McCarthy never identified a single confirmed “registered communist” within the government. Yet as the atmosphere of suspicion spread beyond politics into the cultural and artistic communities, Republican leaders largely stood by. Accusations alone were often enough to damage careers and reputations.

The political usefulness of McCarthy’s campaign began to fade after the Republicans won the 1952 presidential election and the Korean War ended the following year. As his influence waned, McCarthy broadened his attacks, accusing President Dwight D. Eisenhower as well as leaders from both parties of communist sympathies.

In 1954, he pushed further by launching congressional hearings alleging that U.S. Army officers and government officials were involved in subversive activities. The televised proceedings, known as the Army-McCarthy hearings, exposed his aggressive tactics to a national audience and marked a turning point in public opinion.

Once his actions crossed a line, support quickly eroded. On Dec. 2, 1954, the Senate voted to censure McCarthy for conduct “contrary to Senate traditions.” The resolution effectively ended his political power.

McCarthy’s rise and fall illustrated the dangers of fear-driven politics. For years, he had built influence through unverified accusations, intimidation and calls to identify supposed enemies within. His collapse left a cautionary legacy about the political consequences of suspicion without evidence and the lasting damage such campaigns can inflict on democratic institutions.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.