“No single book is as relevant to the present moment.”—Claudia Rankine, author of Citizen“One of the defining books of the decade.”—Elizabeth Hinton, author of From the War on Poverty to the War on CrimeNEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • With a new preface • Fascist politics are running rampant in America today—and spreading around the world. A Yale philosopher identifies the ten … world. A Yale philosopher identifies the ten pillars of fascist politics, and charts their horrifying rise and deep history.
As the child of refugees of World War II Europe and a renowned philosopher and scholar of propaganda, Jason Stanley has a deep understanding of how democratic societies can be vulnerable to fascism: Nations don’t have to be fascist to suffer from fascist politics. In fact, fascism’s roots have been present in the United States for more than a century. Alarmed by the pervasive rise of fascist tactics both at home and around the globe, Stanley focuses here on the structures that unite them, laying out and analyzing the ten pillars of fascist politics—the language and beliefs that separate people into an “us” and a “them.” He knits together reflections on history, philosophy, sociology, and critical race theory with stories from contemporary Hungary, Poland, India, Myanmar, and the United States, among other nations. He makes clear the immense danger of underestimating the cumulative power of these tactics, which include exploiting a mythic version of a nation’s past; propaganda that twists the language of democratic ideals against themselves; anti-intellectualism directed against universities and experts; law and order politics predicated on the assumption that members of minority groups are criminals; and fierce attacks on labor groups and welfare. These mechanisms all build on one another, creating and reinforcing divisions and shaping a society vulnerable to the appeals of authoritarian leadership.
By uncovering disturbing patterns that are as prevalent today as ever, Stanley reveals that the stuff of politics—charged by rhetoric and myth—can quickly become policy and reality. Only by recognizing fascists politics, he argues, may we resist its most harmful effects and return to democratic ideals.
“With unsettling insight and disturbing clarity, How Fascism Works is an essential guidebook to our current national dilemma of democracy vs. authoritarianism.”—William Jelani Cobb, author of The Substance of Hope
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There are moments in which the fate of humanity itself hangs in the balance, and such times always bring with them the resurrection of ugly myths. And yet, as Jason Stanley, one of this nation’s most important philosophers, makes clear, when such myths are deconstructed and their history is laid bare, we remember the extraordinary ties that in fact bind us together. And in the fire of that powerful recollection, modern-day fascism—the current myth-dependent moment of intolerance, xenophobia, and fearmongering in which we find ourselves—can be rendered to ash.
An endless question about history—does it repeat itself? The Allies triumphed over fascism nearly seventy-five years ago. But is it on the rise again? The national populism of Trump and Bannon; Brexit; Orban and the rise of the Hungarian right; the Italian five-star movement; Erdoğan—Jason Stanley has in this extraordinary book tried to answer these questions. For those in denial or in doubt, Stanley’s book provides overwhelming evidence that fascism is alive, well, and on the rise. It’s a clarion call to wake up, pay attention, and do something. No one has any doubt that fascism works; the question remains: How do we stop it? Stanley tells us that fascism is not a plan on how to govern but a plan on how to seize control. This is an important and essential book.
Everyone should read so we don’t forget.
I cannot praise enough the author for the results of this book: a clear and precise analysis of a political project. If you have ever wondered what Fascism is about – and I do not mean solely the Italian branch of this political family which gave the whole movement its name – this is the book for you. Jason Stanley does a great job in breaking down their social and political thesis into its basic features so that the reader can recognize them individually and then as a overall project. You think you agree with these ideas… read it: it will clarify your political views. You think you do not agree with them… read it: it will help you to recognize the politicians who support them.
Faascism like communism, is a name we throw around to discredit an advisary. However, it is really a cult like religion that wraps entire nation’s population into a single thinking and feeling entity. This usuallly ends badly, but can create absolute havoc while it is empowering the masses.
Unfortunatly the people who should read this book (and many others)won’t. If you simplisticly tell yourself that only our WWll enemies were faschists and we defeated them, you missed the whole point. You can call this modern Russia, China, or Trumpism, it really is quitte similar in result.People (like us) surrender their independence and their entire lives to try and reach a place that is really unatainable.It is these well meaning (to themselves) ordinary masses that allow Faascism to have power and control. It is also these people who wil be the first to be crushed by their new masters.
A must read for students of politics and world affairs, especially in today’s political climate under the Trump administration.
This is a book to understand Trump’s propaganda.
A formula for fascism create your own reality sow chaos and division in society destroy a fair playing ground and insist on the good old days then say goodbye to democracy Jason Stanley asks us not to be swayed by the fascist myth and remain free to engage with one another in our thinking experience and understanding an important well written book
Jason Stanley reveals how the liberties of the people wither when voters embrace politicians who promote the divisive politics of us versus them while denigrating cooperation, compromise, and respect for others. How Fascism Works builds on philosopher Stanley’s insightful How Propaganda Works to explain in concise and easily understood terms how people get tricked into reversing the expanding rights that made America great.