Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements

Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right

by Joan Braune

This book is based on the premise that understanding fascism is crucial for defeating it. Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements suggests fascism must be understood according to two “dimensions.” First, fascism is a social movement seeking power, always already connected to sources of power. Hence, fascism cannot be defeated by policing it as a crime problem, nor therapeutically treating it as a pathology of mental health. Second, fascists have cognitive and emotional needs they are seeking to fulfill through their participation in the movement, but the presence of these motivations must be held in tension with the fact that fascists are responsible for their choices and that these individual motivations also exist in a wider social context of capitalism and systems of supremacy. The book opens by examining some psychological elements of recruitment and disengagement from fascist movements, before addressing broader social narratives, concluding with the limitations of an approach that is grounded in the national security state that relies on individualized, perpetrator-centered interventions. Rejecting centrist paradigms that see fascism as “extremism” or “accelerationism,” Braune argues that fascism must be addressed in its specificity and uniqueness as an ideology and movement. Ultimately, she argues, fascism can only be defeated by countervailing social movements that not only demand radical social change but offer alternative spaces of belonging, community care, and the search for meaning. Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements is a philosophical contribution to antifascist theory and practice that will be appreciated by academics, students, and activists concerned about fascism today.

Genres: Sociology

156 pages, Paperback

Published December 22, 2023

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential text for anyone seeking to understand the present political moment. Dr. Braune's writing is very academic, but also at times humorous. Braune effortlessly cuts through the mud of racist and Islamophobic "PVE/CVE" discourses while, at the same time, presenting her own vision of countering fascism. This book has even led me to an interest in Fromm and Weil--and I am not a huge fan of philosophy texts!

As for the accessibility, this is certainly academic writing, but I did manage to get through my last reading of it while recovering from a concussion. This is a great "201" type text. If you've read, for example, Talia Lavin's Culture Warlords, this book is a great next step to sharpening your analysis of fascist political movements, which as Dr. Braune notes, seeks power and is always already connected to power.

If I could give this 10 stars, I would.

[Scott Satterwhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer on fascism that moves the discussion away from seeing fascists as extremists but being (sadly) a part of mainstream society. The case study of Steve Bannon was very interesting, as was Braune's section on fascism and spirituality, both of which help to explain modern the phenomenon of everyday people accepting (and even embracing) fascist thought. Scary at times, and depressing in light of current events; however, this book is a very necessary read right now.