num_pages: 240
description: Fascist politics are running rampant in America todayand spreading around the 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 politicscharged by rhetoric and mythcan quickly become policy and reality. Only by recognizing fascists politics he argues may we resist its most harmful effects and return to democratic ideals.
language: English
title: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
publisher: Random House