Since 1980s, American governments have held an unquestioned, fundamentalist-like belief in the ability of markets to solve all problems and have created a(n) (i)___ political culture that values dominance over cooperation. Dissenters found themselves (ii)____ as promoters of a "nanny stat" with citizen‘s individual choices being stripped by an overprotective government, or discredited as too (iii)___ to be national leaders.




Since 1980s, American governments have held an unquestioned, fundamentalist-like belief in the ability of markets to solve all problems and have created a(n) (i)___ political culture that values dominance over cooperation.


What is going on here? This passage highlights fundamental view of american capitalism in which markets decide consumer prices. In pure capitalistic system, different businesses competes with each other for profit. This encourages more competition among firms and each try to hold sway over others. Which is precisely the first sentence is saying that the system promotes "dominance" or "imperialism".


Dissenters found themselves (ii)____ as promoters of a "nanny stat" with citizen‘s individual choices being stripped by an overprotective government, or discredited as too (iii)___ to be national leaders.


Dissenters who I'm assuming are against capitalism and they must be antagonized by the pro free-market fundamentalists. There is another clue that substantiates this assumption: "promoters of a nanny stat" and "overprotective government". Therefore, the blank should be vilified.


Notice that "or" indicates that there has be the opposite idea for which they are discredited to be national leaders. If they are vilified for their support for government intervention in free market, then they might be discredited for being too soft to be national leaders. You wouldn't discredit for being "puissant" or powerful. And you can be austere and still rule a country! Hence, the blank is soft.