Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook

Mark Bray

4.01 · Rating details · 1,758 ratings · 298 reviews

As long as there has been fascism, there has been anti-fascism—also known as "antifa." Born out of resistance to Mussolini and Hitler in Europe during the 1920s and '30s, the antifa movement has suddenly burst into the headlines amidst opposition to the Trump administration and the alt-right. They could be seen in news reports, clad all in black with balaclavas covering th ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 289 pages

Published August 29th 2017 by Melville House

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Antifa, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Johann Trollmann and Romani Resistance to the Nazis by Jud Nirenberg

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Holocaust Denial or Revisionism

167 books — 11 voters

The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt

The #Resist List

162 books — 38 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.01 ·

Rating details

· 1,758 ratings · 298 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook

Dec 29, 2017 Jason Gordon rated it it was amazing

A word of warning to those who want to read this book: do not watch the television interviews. They do not do the book any justice whatsoever.

Here are a number of things I liked about the book:

1). It provides a comprehensive history of anti-fascism in the Western world. When the book discusses anti-fascism in America, it places it squarely in the anti-racist resistance against the Jim Crow South (which is indeed a fascist regime). Mark Bray also discusses anti-fascism in the West in the contex ...more

flag 81 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2017 Conor Ahern rated it really liked it

Shelves: history, self-help

When I first picked this up, this was my "Eat, Pray, Love" on the subway: what do the two have in common, you ask? Well what better way to get your groove back than frolicking through India and Europe giving fascists whatfor!

Just kidding. They do not (I assume) have anything in common; rather, I felt some embarrassment
about being seen reading it on the subway, and so would contort my hands in such a way that it would be near impossible for anyone to read the cover. Partially this is because th When I first picked this up, this was my "Eat, Pray, Love" on the subway: what do the two have in common, you ask? Well what better way to get your groove back than frolicking through India and Europe giving fascists whatfor!

Just kidding. They do not (I assume) have anything in common; rather, I felt some embarrassment
about being seen reading it on the subway, and so would contort my hands in such a way that it would be near impossible for anyone to read the cover. Partially this is because the "movement" has been discredited as some sort of left-wing false equivalent of the pallid, amoral, virginal, keyboard-warriors of alt-right. But mostly because I had an image of antifa as black-clad paramilitants, spoiling for bloodshed and this contrasted sharply with the jaunty scarves and light, lambswool sweaters I've been wearing during this uncommonly balmy winter we've been having.

For the most part the shame was directed from without--liberal colleagues would snicker, raise eyebrows, roll eyes, etc., the typical dismissiveness that the center-left trains toward the left. And perhaps some of you reading this feel the same way. But I think this really just goes to show how successful conservative voices are at manipulating narratives to bestow false equivalencies.

Part of it also owes to the left's ineptitude when it comes to branding: as I'm sure you all know, "Antifa" stands for "anti-fascism." This is a pretty reasonable position to take, especially given the previous century of violence kindled in fascist conflagrations. But I don't think the general public really does know that, and so the group needlessly forfeits its crucial historical legacy.

When I reserved this book I personally was most interested in the "no platforming" issue. Perhaps it's my time spent working for the ACLU, but I'd always taken the Millian/Jeffersonian approach to free speech: any idea should be tolerated and allowed to live or die on its own merits. I would tell people that it's the one thing the United States does better than other countries, and our gift to the world.

Post-Charlottesville I really had to reevaluate this position, and I remember having a conversation about the incompatibility between First Amendment rights and Second Amendment rights the day before the ACLU changed its position to no longer represent free speech claims if the claimants were armed (I support their change of heart, despite supporting strong free speech rights). Additionally, we have to wonder whether free speech principles require a platform for ideas that have been thoroughly debunked already, which raises the question of whether idiots such as Milo Yiannopoulos are owed one for what amounts to Flat Earth "ideas" about women, trans people, immigrants, Muslims, etc.

But where does that leave private assembly? The idea of free speech under the First Amendment tends to be poorly understood by the public; in reality, it only applies to government censorship, which is why there's no Constitutional issue when some celebrity says something idiotic and then the public, exercising its speech through its dollars, decides to boycott that product until the celebrity bonehead endorser is dropped from the sponsorship deal. So this is why there is no issue when a private university disinvites someone purely on the content of their speech, or why fascists are free to meet in their own homes and discuss the most vile ideas, organizing anything they want short of open insurrection. When we talk about those types of free speech, we are talking about the "value" of free speech, which is one of many liberal values that we all (or almost all) claim to cherish. But because there is no legal/Constitutional component, this value merely rests in equipoise with other liberal values, such as: the importance of voting and representation, welcoming of diversity, the equality of all people, representation by the people, safety and ability to earn a living, etc. These are things that fascists oppose for all but a minority of the population. And so fascist ideas will always exist where there is free speech, even as free speech will always be threatened to the extent that fascist ideas are not kept in check in the theoretical world. Hence: antifa.

The question of how much non-violent intervention (glitter bombing, throwing ballbearings upon march routes, drowning out fascist messaging with song, threatening the job security of fascists, etc.), coercion, doxxing, and violence is necessary, and in what proportions, is the thorny one. As an important caveat, it is critical to mention that liberal values and governmental failsafes utterly failed to prevent fascism before, and so the idea that the government or people's good will should save us is painfully naive. But the gnashing of teeth comes about because we worry, rightly, over the slippery slope when we (again rightly) seek to quell fascist rhetoric and action.

And here I think is the best thing I took away from the book: not a complete, absolutist prohibition on violence, not an exact formula for conquering fascism, but rather one historical truth, which is that antifa exists only as a reaction to creeping fascism. It has never taken over a government, and it has never mushroomed into a PC police state. And just as we don't wring our hands and decide not to fight forest fires because oh-my-god-what-if-it-gets-out-of-control-and-we-end-up-with-firefighters-putting-out-our-campfires, we have no reason to believe that antifa poses any threat outside of the immediate metastasis of fascism that it forms in reaction to.

So please read this book. The first half is somewhat dry history, but the second is practical, interesting, and thought-provoking. And for the love of god educate and push back on those, especially on the left, who have a knee-jerk skepticism about this complex and important phenomenon, because we live in precarious times. ...more

flag 44 likes · Like · see review

Oct 25, 2017 Leo Robertson rated it liked it

The partisan approach had limited appeal.

I didn't know that anti-fascists think of themselves as disbanding once the fascist problem is taken care of. That would be cool, because it would support a "they started it" argument. But because I know the author would like to promote anti-fascism, I'm not inclined to believe him (at least every time) when he says in his narrative that anti-fascist action is the reason for fascists disbanding. Or even that the fascists did disband. The author admits the ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2021 Charles Haywood rated it did not like it

More than twenty years ago, as a very young man, I traveled in Ukraine. In one place, the local authorities were excavating a mass grave from the 1930s. Hundreds of skeletons, men and women, many with flesh and clothes still attached, had been laid out on wooden platforms, for attempted identification before reburial. If you looked, it was easy to see the cause of each person’s death—a square hole in the head. Why square? Because the Communists had hammered in a railroad spike. Why does this mat ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2017 Kaelan Ratcliffe ▪ كايِلان راتكِليف rated it it was amazing

Shelves: colonialism-imperialism, social-movements, history, activism, anarchism-libertarian, anti-semitism, class, political-science, radical-history, politics

"Never Again!"

I've linked a very lively interview at the bottom of this review between the author of this book Mark Bray, and journalist / author Chris Hedges on his show On Contact. As the reader might imagine, it was on Antifa, political violence and the current climate in the American political hemisphere. My conclusion after watching the debate was unexpected. Frankly, despite being a big fan of Hedges, I felt his experience in war zones as a foreign correspondent - and the subsequent d "Never Again!"

I've linked a very lively interview at the bottom of this review between the author of this book Mark Bray, and journalist / author Chris Hedges on his show On Contact. As the reader might imagine, it was on Antifa, political violence and the current climate in the American political hemisphere. My conclusion after watching the debate was unexpected. Frankly, despite being a big fan of Hedges, I felt his experience in war zones as a foreign correspondent - and the subsequent difficulty he faced afterward from being in such environments - had created a binary way of him seeing the topic (ironically binary, black and white ways of viewing the world being something Hedges really made me aware of through his work) and as a result, had blinded him from considering the multifaceted shades of grey this issue contains. I would encourage readers to watch it and decide for themselves.

In opposition, I felt Bray defended the topic quite well, and as a result, his clear knowledge on the subject interested me enough to pick this up at a book fair in London soon after.

Ultimately, I'm glad I did read this text, as Bray does a really good job of balancing the 200 or so pages of The Anti-Facist Handbook with a brief rundown of the history of Anti-fascist resistance, addressing common arguments against Antifa tactics, as well as strategies used by various segments of the movements around the globe. It's by no means an exhaustive work on the topic, as Bray states himself in the introduction, but his effort on this still packs a hell of a punch, and he really hits his stride when combating arguments made against the movements over the years. It's pretty hard to make sweeping claims after reading this.

I won't go into how I feel specifically about the topic, but if anyone decides to read this book in full, then I can state I stand pretty close to Bray regarding the nuances, and shades of grey each situation poses for those who take a stand against far-right figures. It doesn't always mean violence. Believe me, after you've read this, you'll understand that fact too.

https://youtu.be/5IrV9iWyxfs ...more

flag 18 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2020 Kunal Thakker rated it did not like it

This entire book tries, and fails, to justify anti-social and violent behaviour as a form of ‘self-defence’ to fascism by changing the definition of ‘self-defence’ to ‘offensive tactics in order to forestall the potential need for literal self-defence down the line.’

There is an element of paranoia to the ANTIFA ideology as the author labels anybody he disagrees with as a ‘fascist’ without actually exploring their views and providing evidence of specific examples of policies or opinions that can This entire book tries, and fails, to justify anti-social and violent behaviour as a form of ‘self-defence’ to fascism by changing the definition of ‘self-defence’ to ‘offensive tactics in order to forestall the potential need for literal self-defence down the line.’

There is an element of paranoia to the ANTIFA ideology as the author labels anybody he disagrees with as a ‘fascist’ without actually exploring their views and providing evidence of specific examples of policies or opinions that can be considered ‘fascist’.

This should be no surprise when the author is so bitterly opposed to the idea of free speech that he is unwilling to listen to the views of his opponents to the extent that he condones the use of loud noises to literally ‘drown’ out their voices. How do you know that President Trump and Brexit supporters are fascist if you don’t even analyse what they say?

It’s clear that his understanding of Trump’s policies don’t go any further than clickbait headlines and short video clips taken out of context, as in his example of Trump supposedly calling Mexican immigrants ‘rapists’. Anybody who has seen the full speech will know that Trump is specifically referring to the Mexican gang MS13 that adheres to the motto: “kill, rape, control”. A google search and a willingness to listen to a counter-argument will debunk almost every example of modern fascism in this book.

So even if you are sympathetic to the Marxist cause, and you believe that fascists should not be allowed to peacefully voice their opinion, you don’t even have any real fascist targets.

The author seems to suffer from the cognitive bias of binary thinking, often known as black or white thinking. He doesn’t understand that the morality of political concepts are often dependent upon where they lie on a spectrum. This is evident in how he doesn’t distinguish between the type of arrogant extreme expansionist nationalism of the Nazis, and the moderate patriotic nationalism of Trump, where America looks to confidently compete in fair competition against other self-interested nations. Nationalism can be compared to the concept of self-esteem, where extreme nationalism is comparable to narcissism and moderate nationalism can be compared to a healthy sense of self-esteem. You can’t help others if you don’t look after yourself first.

If you are somebody who believes in tolerance and democracy then this book should concern you as the author unashamedly admits that these are things he is against. There is a narcissistic superiority complex about ANTIFA that believes its ideology is above the ‘free market of ideas’, and that one rule should apply to them and another to everybody else. This isn’t my interpretation of Bray’s ideas because he actually admits this on multiple occasion throughout the book.

When the average person hears the term “anti-fascist”, they wouldn’t really think twice to question whether or not it’s a noble cause, but being opposed to something ‘evil’ does not automatically make you ‘good’. Communism is a totalitarian ideology and has resulted in the regimes of Stalin, Mao and the Kim Dynasty, amounting far greater horrors than even fascism. Hitler was an anti-communist. This does not make Hitler ‘good’. In the same way, anti-fascists are not ‘good’ because they also advocates of communism.

Essentially this book is a tool to indoctrinate people who lack the ability to think critically. Anyone who understands the importance of addressing two sides of the debate, who can raise an eyebrow when assumptions are made with no evidence will find every single argument in this book to fall flat on its face. It is an immoral narcissistic unashamedly violent ideology and President Trump was correct to designate ANTIFA as a terrorist organisation. ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2017 TR Peterson rated it really liked it

A good overview of anti-fascist movements over the years up to and including Antifa in the US today. The author also looks at arguments about violence, free speech and no platforming as well. He clearly outlines how liberal notions of free speech are not ones that Antifa adheres to and why. It is written from a pro-Antifa perspective which one may or may not agree with but you do get a very clear understanding of their views and where they come from. A very timely book. 4 of 5 stars.

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jun 15, 2020 Kate rated it did not like it

Shelves: nonfiction

Ok, so I read this.. And what did I learn... well, that they actually like to be the "shut it down Left" and consider it not only a compliment, but their responsibility, to be known as those who drown out, dox, shame and censor any and all voices with whom they disagree. Their excuse is that if free speech hurts someone's feelings, then free speech is bad and needs to be silenced. ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2017 Tonstant Weader rated it liked it

I wanted to read Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook by historian Mark Bray because I am conflicted by Antifa. On the one hand, every human being who aspires to morality and decency must be anti-fascist. On the other hand, violence other than in self-defense is an immoral tactic. It is also strategically wrong. However, I wanted to understand how they perceived this moral dilemma.

The first chapters are a history of the anti-fascist movement. This resembles nothing so much as a military campaign hi ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2018 Roxana rated it it was amazing

This is a must read for those who take the struggle against capitalism, patriarchy, transphobia, and racism, seriously. After tracing the history of fascism and antifascism throughout Europe and, to a smaller degree, the US, Mark Bray points to five historical lessons:

1)Fascist revolutions have never succeeded. Fascists gained power legally.

2)To varying degrees, many interwar antifa leaders and theorists assumed that fascism was simply a variant of traditional counterrevolutionary politics. Th This is a must read for those who take the struggle against capitalism, patriarchy, transphobia, and racism, seriously. After tracing the history of fascism and antifascism throughout Europe and, to a smaller degree, the US, Mark Bray points to five historical lessons:

1)Fascist revolutions have never succeeded. Fascists gained power legally.

2)To varying degrees, many interwar antifa leaders and theorists assumed that fascism was simply a variant of traditional counterrevolutionary politics. They didn't take it seriously enough until it was too late.

3)For ideological and organizational reasons, socialists and communists leadership was often slower to accurately assess the threat of fascism, and slower to advocate militant antifa responses, than their parties rank and file memberships.

4) Fascism steals from left ideology, strategy, imagery, and culture.

5)It doesn't take that many fascists to make fascism.

He then responds to common criticisms and misconceptions about antifa.
In regards to free speech, Bray writes, "Instead of privileging allegedly "neutral" universal rights, antifascists prioritize the political project of destroying fascism and protecting the vulnerable regardless of whether their actions are considered violations of the free speech of fascists or not," (p.144). He describes how important "free speech" is to the US government when faced with movements, such as the Black Panthers and BLM, that threaten their hegemony and which suffered under acute repression, surveillance, assaults, and murder at the hands of the authorities. Bray points to ways in which people already disqualify "universal" and objective free speech to those who are undocumented, incarcerated, and during times of war, etc..He also points to Citizens United which perfectly illustrates the tension between "free speech" and big money. Antifa refuse to "pin their hopes for the freedom and security of humanity on processes of public discourse that have already shown themselves to be fallible," after the failure to stop fascism in the past century through legal means (p.148). Antifa are not against free speech in the abstract, they are against those who use their (contested) right to promote genocide or to question people's humanity.

In regards to the "slippery slope" and the "who decides" argument, Bray answers that this question should not be understood in abstract. "Efforts to deny a platform to fascists did not emerge from random individuals suddenly deciding that they disagreed with fascists and therefore wanted to silence them. Rather, they grew out of the historic struggle, often waged in self-defence, of movements of leftists-jews, people of color, Muslims, queer and trans people, and others, to make sure that fascists do not grow powerful enough to murder them," (p. 156). Bray points out how, historically, antifa organizing declines as local fascist organizing declines so there is no group of people who organize and decide to shut others down all those who disagree with them. It just doesn't happen. The liberal alternative is to let free ideas, police, and government to prevent fascism. This has failed on notable occassions. Bray says the more convincing "slippery slope" argument that actually does have historical evidence is to say, "that allowing fascism to develop and expand runs the documented risk of sliding into 'totalitarianism'," (p.158).

Bray also confronts the issue of mass movements vs. militant antifascism: "Rather than imposing what is essentially an electoral mindset of appealing to the lowest common denominator in relation to the fascist threat, antifascists prioritize working with marginal communities to neutralize any potential threats, whether it's popular with 'the majority' or not,. This perspective is especially important in antifascist work given the historical fact that those who have suffered the most under fascistic regimes have not had the backing of most of the rest of society," (p.202).

Other important lessons from this book were:
-Most of the organizing done by antifascists is non-violent (making calls, leafleting, protesting, etc). Antifa believe in a diversity of tactics.
-The vast majority of antifa are revolutionary socialists. "Antifascism is a pan revolutionary left politics applied to fighting the Far Right."
-Antifa recognize the need to transcend subculture politics by building popular movements. It is extremely common to find antifa who are also involved with organizing around workplace issues, immigration, etc..
-Most importantly, Antifa is necessary, but it is not enough. We need to put forth a revolutionary alternative that can create a new world in the shell of the old.
...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2018 Lucas rated it it was ok

To be honest, I was expecting a somewhat more intellectually sophisticated defense of Antifa actions and philosophy. The book displays too few new contents, and I feel free to skip several parts that presented some well-known facts about the twentieth century.
I was more interested in the Antifa views regarding free speech and violence. The argument for violence is grounded in the historical fact that on several occasions fascists used the current legal system to take power. I think this argumen ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 07, 2017 Alexandra rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, history

Essential reading--not just a history but a wealth of ideas and inspiration for the future.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2018 Mrs. Europaea rated it really liked it

Bray sheds new light and understanding on a highly misunderstood and represented movement. Antifa gets misrepresented through the media and often times through it's own members and this disinformation spreads like wildfire casting a very negative view on what is ultimately a positive movement for the freedoms of all people.

That said, Bray states several times that the book was rushed because they wanted to get the information out there as soon as possible in this current political climate under ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2020 Corvus rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, anarchism-other-radicals

This book is not only an important and well researched brief history of antifa, it is also entertainingly written. Sometimes books like this, though containing excellent information, can get dry. This one definitely is not. So if you are a person who is honestly interested in this topic, please ignore the reactionary far-right reviews by fragile people who think fascism is somehow on the same playing field as anti-fascism. People who are pro racism and genocide are not the same as people who fig ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 21, 2020 Scott Holstad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: politics-policy, non-fiction, favorites, military-and-military-history, philosophy

These days? An absolutely essential book. Necessary, especially in 2020 America. Because most Americans haven't been exposed to historical fascism the way Europeans have, most don't have an accurate, complete or in some cases any understanding at all about this very dangerous movement, let alone its textbook (or playbook) tactics and techniques that are nearly always virtually identical, starting with a Goebbels-styled propaganda blitz, complete with massive amounts of lies, disinformation, fear These days? An absolutely essential book. Necessary, especially in 2020 America. Because most Americans haven't been exposed to historical fascism the way Europeans have, most don't have an accurate, complete or in some cases any understanding at all about this very dangerous movement, let alone its textbook (or playbook) tactics and techniques that are nearly always virtually identical, starting with a Goebbels-styled propaganda blitz, complete with massive amounts of lies, disinformation, fear-mongering (always of some evil, fearsome "other" -- immigrants are usually good targets, as are Jews, minorities, the disabled and mentally ill), the point being to creative divisiveness, mistrust -- especially in the "mainstream" (or any) media -- but even in one's neighbors, co-workers, others who are different in culture, religion, politics, convincing the people they are victims who have been wronged by others, initially outside the state, later inside the state, thus creating a need for a strong, centralized leadership led by a strong(man) autocrat, typically excellent at "hiding" their fascist tactics, plans, goals etc., until it's too damn late. ALL of which we've experienced under Trump. Fascists always also promote violence -- again, check -- and pick out their perceived most dangerous "foe," nearly always antifascists who have been around as long as fascism officially has (since 1919), NOT because they are "fascists" or terrorists themselves as fascists ALWAYS claim in labeling their enemies exactly what they are to turn the public, especially liberals against them. In this case Antifa, which is NOT an organization like the KKK, many Neo-Nazis or Spencer's official Alt Right organization, but an IDEOLOGY, a commitment on the part of those who care about the dangers posed to freedom and peoples being targeted by racists, white supremacists, white nationalists, etc., and I'll wager the majority of Americans have never heard that word or term five years ago, but now because the fascists led by Trump, and spurred on by the mainstream media AND liberals who should be grateful there are people willing to lay their lives on the line to protect THEM from future concentration camps and gas chambers. I've seen nothing but bullshit claims by hypocritical liars like the "Proud Boys" (what idiot came up with that name?), other similar group AND various Dems, progressives, liberals screaming about the evil "fringe left" and Antifa itself -- as though there's an official organization with an office, mailing address, hierarchy, officers, etc. -- like the liberals and the Alt Right have -- and especially how violent Antifa "terrorists" are because they go around stabbing poor defenseless patriotic white separatists. It's infuriating! The thing is, not only do the Trump sheeple believe them, but the naïve witless liberals -- who are being targeted for "extermination" as several Proud Boys proclaimed at their recent Washington DC gathering -- yet I challenge anyone to do their due diligence and find how people organizing temporarily under the antifascist "Antifa" termed umbrella work vs how white christian nationalists work. Just go back four years and research. The Nazis always claimed "Antifa" terrorists try to and/or succeed in "stabbing" them, which I guess legitimizes in their view going all over the communities more heavily armed than the US military.

Let me explain a few things, and these examples don't necessarily come from this book, but would be historically supported. Antifascists typically gather together historically to DEFEND themselves, their communities, and legitimate protestors from harm, sometimes lethal, on the part of fascists, historically very well documented, so much so that I feel I needn't say anymore more than Mussolini's Black Shirts, Hitler's Brown Shirts, Mosely's Black Shirts, the atrocities in the Balkans during the 1990s -- which will always be the end result of unchecked fascism unless their movements are crushed -- and when our president literally says on national tv that his rabid Proud Boy followers should not Stand DOWN, but instead Stand Back and Stand BY, he is telling his own type of Black Shirts to be ready to kill his and their opponents, just like they've been dying to, just like their predecessors have, and while people on television worry about a potential "civil war" and will violence happen while crucifying this mysterious evil "Antifa," the facts are that antifascists deemed "militant," because they are only a small portion of such movements since the majority try to provide educational materials, look up info on known white nationalists and "Doxx" them to embarrass them into quitting their movements, and peacefully protesting on the whole. While there are armed leftists, they can't remotely compete with the firepower and the willingness of the right (no longer fringe right), and most do not carry arms to protests, OR even knives -- UNLIKE the fascists. Traditionally, they have carried non-lethal defensive weapons such as shields, some body army, and historically batons for protection. So let me ask you, how many confirmed stabbings or murders have been committed by proven antifascists under the Antifa label in the US over the past four years (if ever)? I haven't recently looked this up, but last I recall it was possibly one, if that. Meanwhile, to use a famous example that our president refused to condemn, at Charlottesville, the infamous act was when a white supremacist drove into a crowd of protestors (this tactic has been tried and/or used elsewhere by them), killing a young woman? Any remorse? No. Any publicity about the SEVEN antifascists who were stabbed at this same rally by Alt Right white christian nationalists -- as opposed to zero of them by "Antifa" terrorists? Hell no! Wonder why? I don't. What about the claims over the past year or so by these violent racists that Antifa terrorists are gathering by the hundreds of thousands to attack their marches, scared to death because there are only thousands of well armed, assault gun carrying white supremacists, so naturally they need police protection. And how many more antifascists have been stabbed at these events? What about confirmed stabbings of these Alt Right fascists?

(Here's a handy fact checking article about this very topic: https://theconversation.com/fact-chec.... One section states,

"Overall, however, data show that Antifa activists have been involved in relatively few violent incidents compared to white supremacists, who have conducted at least 40 lethal attacks since 2018 according to the Department of Homeland Security."

Yeah, do your homework. In an area not far from me, a small community had a small number of peaceful, mostly older, anti-Trump citizens who scheduled a protest at their county courthouse which would have entailed maybe 40 people, most of them retired, none armed or dangerous, and it was national news when over 1,000 white supremacists came from all over the region, including other states, armed to the hilt, to make sure these people remained peaceful and legal and to keep others safe -- from white haired people with canes facing thousands of guns. Police protection. Fuck no! Standard, no matter where fascists are. In this same little county, this little group tried to schedule some three more tiny little protests, and had to cancel each -- and their constitutional rights fascists and racists are always screaming leftist "fascists" are denying them re free speech, gathering publicly, etc -- because they actually received numerous public threats made as promises that hundreds more would come, armed, to "keep the peace" (there would have been noting but peace if those asshats hadn't shown up!), and for the final one, they received public messages made available to everyone that if these few dozen people gathered with their signs, there WOULD be shooting and they would be the targets.

I have a lot more to say on the subject, but I'll just say this -- I'll be damned if my family, uncles, cousins fought, bled, sacrificed all on foreign beaches to free millions of people being tortured and killed by insane genocidal fascists AS WELL AS trying to keep the rest of the world safe from these evil monsters, only to find some decades later, flags bearing Swastikas being planted in American soil, if not eventually American political buildings and agencies! I'd rather die first, and anyone wishing to follow a Hitler lover, giving up their freedoms and slaughtering their countrymen over political differences in AMERICA, are simply traitors guilty of the worst of treasons, deserving of the punishment traitors once got in this country. This is not necessarily the best book I've read on this topic -- there's another couple I think are a bit better, one of which is Jason Stanley's How Fascism Works -- but this book IS a great starting point and I urge anyone who still cares about democracy, freedom, the future of America and Americans -- not just of one certain color -- to read this, ingest the info, ponder it and act according to one's own beliefs because this is likely the most dangerous time in our country's history, and it's antifascists who are currently the only line of defense between what Trump allegedly plans to unleash -- even if he could hold the "Trumpites" back -- and I'm not sure that would be possible -- and/or until others unite to defend themselves, their neighbors, this country from insane lunatics living in a different, warped toxic and lethal universe. Could not be more recommended! ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2017 Owlseyes marked it as to-read

Shelves: antifascism-in-usa, terror, not-for-white-males, white-privilege, black-first, american-second, one-world-government, violence, europe-and-usa, black-bloc

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2017 Dave rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This probably shouldn't be called a "handbook." It's not so much a how-to thing as it is an explanation to an audience that's unlikely to join in. That's fine though. I think most people interested in this book would rather it be that way. Antifa's been in the news a lot lately and it's been misrepresented to the point of being treated as the name of one activist group when it's really just a way to describe many diverse groups who oppose fascism. A lot of these groups are explicitly anarchist o This probably shouldn't be called a "handbook." It's not so much a how-to thing as it is an explanation to an audience that's unlikely to join in. That's fine though. I think most people interested in this book would rather it be that way. Antifa's been in the news a lot lately and it's been misrepresented to the point of being treated as the name of one activist group when it's really just a way to describe many diverse groups who oppose fascism. A lot of these groups are explicitly anarchist or socialist or anti-capitalist, and a lot of them are willing to use violent tactics, but working in some way to prevent/end fascism is the only real requirement for being called antifa. When it comes to understanding this diversity I think this book does a good job, just don't expect a step by step strategy guide for revolution or something.

It's pretty scary how stupid most of the discussions about this topic are in the media. I hear so many people saying things like "if you use violence then you're just as bad as they are" and "antifa are the real fascists." The Left has just been so relentlessly bombarded with these naïve messages about what it is to be "the good guy" that they can't even consider the possibility that well thought out arguments won't reach the types of people who voted for Donald Trump. You can use all the statistics and visual aids that you want to but if the audience you're talking to isn't using reason then it doesn't matter how clear and eloquent you make yourself. The difference between good people and bad people isn't IF they fight or IF they hate but WHY they fight and WHAT they hate. And being tolerant of everything isn't necessarily a good thing when you take it to the ridiculous extreme of tolerating intolerance. Intolerance is essentially what fascism is and that is why being intolerant of it shouldn't be equated with other forms of intolerance. It's one thing to allow small groups to avoid certain crowds when they have weird beliefs but when they explicitly state a desire to hunt down and kill anyone who doesn't share their beliefs or their ancestry then they need to be treated as a threat. Not doing so is like using cultural diversity as an excuse for protecting imperialist cultures that destroy other cultures. It makes absolutely no sense!

The Right's criticisms, not too surprisingly, are even more ridiculous. They scream about freedom of speech despite being the ones most guilty of trying to restrict it. Trump bitches about how the "liberal media" should be charged with slander for criticisms that are mostly accurate while he abets the Right's blatant lies about Obama's birth certificate, spreads propaganda about the supposed threat liberals are to police (they've actually been safer under Obama's presidency than any time in the last few decades), claims Obama is the one responsible for the national debt crisis (the deficit fell precipitously for most of his presidency, leveling off at about the same point it's been for decades before Bush let it explode, and Trump is already showing signs of raising the deficit himself), pushing conspiracy theories about Antifa being the masterminds behind the Las Vegas shooting massacre (claiming it was a false flag attack to demonize guns, even though most antifa groups aren't against gun ownership) and countless lies about the Clintons that aren't even worth getting into. They also inaccurately use words like "socialist", "communist", "terrorist", "anti-Semite", "thug", and "freeloading parasite" to describe left wingers while decrying the supposedly unfair use of the word "fascist" for themselves (Fascism is defined in my dictionary as "a government system characterized by nationalism, regimentation, rigid censorship and suppression of opposition." Maybe you can still argue that we're not quite there yet but can anyone really deny how blatantly these scumbags are trying to push us in that direction?).

There are a lot of assumptions on the Left that need to be challenged too: the idea that "free speech" should be protected at all costs, that democracy is the only way to run a free society, that there's no rational reason for law abiding citizens to arm themselves, that new scientific knowledge justifies the atrocities of modern technology and globalization, that good inevitably will prevail over evil... Most of their philosophy at least sounds nice compared to the insanity of the Right but it's still based more on faith than reason. I just can't stand hearing things like "Antifa is a gift to the extreme Right" from Noam Chomsky and others. I understand the argument that the Left would be outgunned in a physical struggle but that's sort of the problem. We're choosing to be defenseless in order to stay consistent with a bullshit philosophy. It doesn't take much for the Right to play victim anyway. Any little anecdotal incident results in Fox News claiming that the entire Left has declared war on all conservatives. ANYTHING! Do you really think you can prevent every bit of backlash against groups like the KKK from those whose lives are threatened by them? These incidents don't play into their hands any more than a refusal to fight does. I would argue that these hate groups are mainly gaining power because they feel so comfortable out in the open at this point. In any sane society you should feel terrified of letting others know that you consider black people and gays to be subhuman or that you don't give a shit about destroying the environment for future generations. Similarly, if your job is to protect polluters and white collar criminals from their indignant victims while ruining the lives of people who use cannabis then you shouldn't be comfortable letting anyone know that's what you do every day. You should be terrified of the consequences for such disgusting behavior. The fact that they're so comfortable just shows how ineffective and nonthreatening mainstream activism has become.

Sometimes it just seems like part of the entropy of the universe that evil always wins. They have the advantage of not having to be scrupulous with their decisions. Being responsible requires a lot more careful thought and procrastination before acting, which makes it impossible for the good guys to get as much done as those who just follow their whims without considering consequences. I wouldn't say that this justifies us ignoring all scruples but we should at least reevaluate some of our assumptions about what makes us the good guys. I'm personally of the opinion that most of our effort should go towards the root cause of these problems: the economic system's imperative to grow. The pressure for infinite growth is what led to so much hate, as well as so many other problems, and what continues to fuel it. Mark Bray points out himself that hate groups see huge surges in recruitment during economic downturns, when people are frustrated and easily misled into blaming some easy target. Men who are out of work and feeling pathetic and desperate are particularly susceptible to adopting these hateful philosophies, finding them to provide some sense of purpose in their lives and somewhere that they can feel they belong. There are a lot of alternative economic systems that would limit these pressures. Of course this doesn't mean that we'll just all make this decision and wake up tomorrow in a better world, or that some sort of green socialist system for the whole world should even be the ultimate goal. It will take time for things to change and therefore the types of tactics described in this book will still be necessary to defend those who are most threatened. Totally rejecting all "violent" tactics will only make us less effective. It's basically like fighting an enemy with one arm tied behind your back. Anyone who doesn't understand that should definitely read this book, as well as others like Deep Green Resistance, This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, A People's History of the United States, etc. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 23, 2017 James Klagge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-issues, history

I found this book at a propitious time, shortly after I got back from the counter-protest to the alt-right rally in Charlottesville in August. That was my first experience with antifa. This is an excellent book to learn about antifa--although it is not an unbiased report. In fact it is written by an antifa sympathizer who is also a "scholar" of the movement. The author draws on many personal interviews with antifa activists to supplement a careful history and survey of the movement. But the book I found this book at a propitious time, shortly after I got back from the counter-protest to the alt-right rally in Charlottesville in August. That was my first experience with antifa. This is an excellent book to learn about antifa--although it is not an unbiased report. In fact it is written by an antifa sympathizer who is also a "scholar" of the movement. The author draws on many personal interviews with antifa activists to supplement a careful history and survey of the movement. But the book also advocates for resistance to fascism.
Antifa is a label for a wide variety of groups that actively resist manifestations of fascism around the world. It is not an organization to which groups belong. Perhaps you could say "antifa" is more an adjective than a noun. In Charlottesville there were no groups calling themselves antifa, but there were at least two groups, Redneck Revolt and IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), who fit the bill. I would characterize antifa as groups who are willing to engage in violence to resist fascist behavior. In Charlottesville Redneck Revolt members carried wooden poles and semi-automatic rifles. The only violence I witnessed was a clash between a small group carrying confederate flags and a larger group of RR. An RR member swiped a flag and made off with it, another RR member got snatched trying to grab a flag and a melee ensued with those on both sides whacking each other with poles. It lasted a couple minutes. The flag bearers were outnumbered and retreated. This was a manifestation of the antifa slogan of "no platform" for fascists. When fascists try to spread their message, antifa will try to disrupt that. Thus, they can be seen as opponents of free speech for fascists. They will also try to disrupt fascist gatherings. This is what happened in Charlottesville. The alt-right had permission to use Emancipation Park as a gathering place for their demonstration at noon. Antifa groups arrived earlier and occupied the space and wouldn't leave. That led to various clashes, and the police dispersed the demonstration before it began. The antifa succeeded in the sense that they did not allow the alt-right an unimpeded platform for spreading their message.
It might seem wrong to shut down free speech when it is just speech. I think I believe that. But antifa see speech as just the first step in a dangerous slippery slope toward worse, so they resist as early as they can (p. 141): "Since the future is unwritten, and fascism often emerges out of small, marginal groups [as it did before WWII], every fascist or white supremacist group should be treated as if they could be...Hitler's first stepping stone." One antifa put it this way (p. 169): "You fight them by writing letters and making phone calls so you don't have to fight them with fists. You fight them with fists so you don't have to fight them with knives. You fight them with knives so you don't have to fight them with guns. You fight them with guns so you don't have to fight them with tanks." We all know the poetic lament:
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
In response to that, when Trump's Muslim travel ban was announced, antifa protesters proclaimed (p. 207):
"First they came for the Muslims, and we said 'Not This Time Motherfuckers!'"
As for my own experience of the antifa groups in Charlottesville, I have to say that I was glad that they were there. The police notoriously did not keep the peace, and it seemed very much to me that what peace there was stemmed from the deterrent effect of the aggressive and armed antifa. That is not how I will engage fascism, but I appreciate that at least in that context, the antifa were what allowed me to engage fascism the way I did. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2018 rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: coursework, read-in-2018

Sometimes this book wanders too much for me. It feels like it gets caught up in examples and loses the narrative thread. But here's the thing: it poses a lot of the same questions and responses I feel like I've been dealing with for 4.5 years of graduate school studying social movements. I don't feel as if I have more answers than I did before reading it (though I do have a better sense of organizing, both geographically and historically); instead, I feel less alone in my critiques of the public ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 28, 2019 Jackie rated it it was amazing

This book is tight as fuck. It starts with a history of anti-fascist movements, which includes Jewish WW2 veterans physically breaking up meetings of fascists who said they didn't burn up enough Jews in the camps, all the way to current deplatforming efforts. There are so many efforts that shut down fascists its incredible. The author also breaks down arguments made against violent efforts not working (they have and do) and the ways it's disingenuous to say antifascist are anti-free speech. This ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2020 Crypto Punk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction

Whoever said that a bunch of leftists in a group is nothing but an echo chamber, has probably never been in a room with more than one or two leftists. As someone who loves debating political ideologies on multiple platforms, I am well aware of the myriad differences in opinions across the left political spectrum. If I had a penny for every time a fellow left-leaning person told me that my ideas are stupid, I'd probably qualify to be bourgeoisie by now. I bring up all this because these are thing Whoever said that a bunch of leftists in a group is nothing but an echo chamber, has probably never been in a room with more than one or two leftists. As someone who loves debating political ideologies on multiple platforms, I am well aware of the myriad differences in opinions across the left political spectrum. If I had a penny for every time a fellow left-leaning person told me that my ideas are stupid, I'd probably qualify to be bourgeoisie by now. I bring up all this because these are things that are well understood by the author in this book. As much as the pearl-clutching conservatives would like to paint Antifa as some extreme left organisation, hell-bent on censoring everything and everyone, things cannot be further from the truth.

Antifascism is rather an idea and one of those rare instances where everyone on the left, whether they're communists, socialists or anarchists, agree with one another. While there may be unity in decrying the evils of the fascist right when it comes to the methodology of acting against it, the differences of opinions rise yet again. This book then is an attempt to document the historical context of antifascist movements across the world and highlight some of the current global efforts to combat the far right as the world continues to face growing momentum in conservative ideologies.

The history of anti-fascist action is not something that one can readily pick up and understand. As a reactionary movement to the emergence of racist and fascist groups, Antifa tends to crop up sporadically throughout the 20th century, making it difficult to document a through-line in history. Mark Bray's attempt here is much needed and valiant one. From the pre War movements in the 1930s to the recent resistance to neo Nazi groups in America and Europe, the historical tale of Antifa is well researched, if possibly incomplete, one.

The second aspect of this book deals with the multiple questions that have arisen, especially in recent times, regarding the means through which Antifa combats hate and bigotry. Even within antifascists, disagreements persist when it comes to things like the use of violence and the curbing of absolute free speech. Mark Bray gives even-handed attention to all sides of the argument and leaves the conclusion up to the readers on what the right thing to do is. True to the title, the book also includes handy tips and things to remember for those wanting to get in on the action and act as a bulwark against the rising tide of the far right.

At this point in the review, it should be needless to say that this book is not going to change the minds of those who have already decided that "Antifa are the real fascists" or other such juvenile drivel. If, on the other hand, one is open-minded and curious to learn the multiple facets of antifascist action, then this book is mandatory reading in my opinion. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2020 David rated it really liked it

In one of the 2020 presidential debates, Trump stated that “Someone’s gotta do something about Antifa...” Knowing little about Antifa, this came to me as a challenge to look closer at who and what Antifa is, and if we should fear Antifa. While it’s not the endpoint, what better place to begin than the Antifa Handbook?

Who is Antifa and what is its purpose? In short, Antifa is anti-fascism. Antifa is not a unified organization but rather a movement; it lacks any hierarchical leadership structure a In one of the 2020 presidential debates, Trump stated that “Someone’s gotta do something about Antifa...” Knowing little about Antifa, this came to me as a challenge to look closer at who and what Antifa is, and if we should fear Antifa. While it’s not the endpoint, what better place to begin than the Antifa Handbook?

Who is Antifa and what is its purpose? In short, Antifa is anti-fascism. Antifa is not a unified organization but rather a movement; it lacks any hierarchical leadership structure and instead is an array of autonomous groups and individuals coalescing around an anti-fascist agenda. The author notes that Antifa rises and falls in lockstep with fascism—when fascism rears its head, Antifa rises in responds, and when fascism recedes, so does Antifa. It doesn’t have any other political purpose, although those involved in the movement may have their own political objectives.

What are their methods? According to Bray, the vast majority of anti-fascist tactics involve no physical violence. Anti-fascists conduct research on the far right. They dox them, push cultural milieu to disown them, pressure bosses to fire them, and demand that venues cancel their shows, conferences, and meetings. But it is also true that some of them punch Nazis in the face and don’t apologize for it. “In truth, violence reflects a small though vital sliver of anti-fascist activity.” Three factors that anti-fascists use to justify their violence: (1) rational debate and the institutions of government have failed to consistently halt the rise of fascism, so they hope to physically prevent a sequel of a fascist advance; (2) militant anti-fascists activity has proven to be a successful means in shutting down far-right organizing; and (3) Fascist violence often necessitates self-defense. But the Antifa agenda doesn’t begin with violence as the first choice. As one anti-fascist put it, “You fight them by writing letters and making phone calls, so you don’t have to fight them with fists. You fight them with fists, so you don’t have to fight them with knives. You fight them with knives, so you don’t have to fight them with guns. You fight them with guns, so you don’t have to fight them with tanks.”

How do they justify their actions? In the past, fascists have been the source of unspeakable atrocities and fatalities numbering in the millions. At the entrance to the Dachau concentration camp is a monument with the words “Never again” written in several languages. Antifa’s objective is to make sure of that. Bray notes that fascist revolutions have never succeeded, instead, fascists gain power legally. Historically, fascism has gained entry to the halls of power not by smashing down the gates, but by convincing the gatekeepers to politely swing them open. We cannot rely on rational debate to stop fascism—it did not stop it in Germany or Italy. Governments do not take fascism seriously enough until it was too late. Therefore, based on historical precedence, anti-fascists are not content to let fascist movements die on the vine and instead intend to actively and directly stop it themselves.

Where to draw the line? And it is this last point that begs the question, “To what extent should we allow fascist freedom of thought, expression, and assembly?” Antifa’s answer is “none”. From their perspective, the safety and wellbeing of marginalized populations is the priority. Anti-fascists value the free and open exchange of ideas; they simply draw the line at those who use that freedom to promote genocide or question people’s humanity. They argue that everyone has their exceptions to free speech, whether obscenity, incitement to violence, Copywrite infringement, press censorship during wartime, restrictions for the incarcerated, or ads for smoking cigarettes.

True as that may be, waiving the right to free speech may be Antifa’s most challenging assertion. As Kevin Drum put it, “Whenever you start thinking these are good reasons to overturn, by violence or otherwise, someone’s invitation to speak, ask yourself this: ‘Who decides?’ Because once you keep people from speaking, you concede the right of somebody to make that decision. And that someone might eventually decide to shut down Communists, or anti-war protesters, or gays, or socio-biologists, or Jews who defend Israel, or Muslims. I don’t want anyone to have that power. No one else on the left should want it either.”

It there a genuine Antifa threat? The book may or may not resolve a reader’s opinion about the ethical appropriateness of Antifa’s mission and tactics. But there is one last question that the book does not ask or attempt to answer, a question related to Trump’s quest to have Antifa designated a domestic terrorist organization: Is Antifa truly a threat? A dispassionate answer is not likely to come from either Trump or author Mark Bray, but there is objective information available at the non-partisan Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). With respect to the recent violence that emerged at some of the BLM protests, their research indicated that that the vast majority of looting appeared to come from local opportunists with no Antifa affiliation or political objectives. Most were common criminals. At a broader level, of 893 terrorist incidents in the United States between January 1994 and May 2020, right-wing terrorists perpetrated 57% of all attacks and plots during this period (particularly those who were white supremacists and anti-government extremists). In comparison, left-wing extremists orchestrated 25% of the incidents during this period, followed by 15% from religious terrorists, 3% from ethnic-nationalists, and 0.7% from terrorists with other motives. In analyzing fatalities from terrorist attacks, religious terrorism has killed the largest number of individuals—3,086 people—primarily due to the 9/11 attack. In comparison, right-wing terrorist attacks caused 335 fatalities, left-wing attacks caused 22 deaths, and ethno-nationalist terrorists caused 5 deaths. Viewed in this context, the threat from Antifa-associated actors in the United States is minuscule.

Thus, while Antifa doesn’t fall in the same category as Boy Scouts, statistical analysis doesn’t support the claim that Antifa is a significant threat to the general populace. The handbook instead describes a movement and objectives that respond to a fascist threat that history tells us is potentially catastrophic. And if Antifa is not a genuine threat, what about fascism itself? Is there a credible fascist threat today? A direct study of fascism is a topic for another book, and my next review.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2020 Esther King rated it liked it

This was pretty ‘meh’ in totality. Let me be entirely transparent when I say that I am completely anti-fascist myself, and therefore the views of Antifa are not so radical in my thinking (with that being said, I lack the predeliction to physical violence that has manifested in some capacities). With that being said, this book was fairly bone dry. The history was lengthy and yet lacked any personal connections through anecdotes, and the presentation on Antifa thinking was far less comprehensive t ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 19, 2019 Christopher McQuain rated it really liked it · review of another edition

On a certain "literary" level, I found that this book could've used an editor (or a more stringent, hands-on one), along with that disappearing luxury, a basic copy editor (misspellings, weird punctuation, word-choice redundancies all abound....). It's not as well-written or -organized as it could be. On the other hand, virtually no other book has the claim to urgency, and consequent justification for having been rushed out (in early 2017), that this one does. And that sense of urgency, along wi ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2017 James rated it really liked it

You get what it says.

Antifa is a history of the Anti-Facist movement and puts into perspective the history, politics and organizing behind it. It gives a stronger context of its place in past and current politics and answers many current questions being asked of Antifa and gives some perspective on what free speech means in a greater context.

Bray pulls no punches on the side he's taking or partisanship, however if you are interested in understanding many sides of the current climate it's an im ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2018 Ali Benam rated it it was amazing

Thorough and well written. Definitely a must-read.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2017 Hampton Stall rated it it was amazing

mark bray, as good as always

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 02, 2019 Niamh rated it liked it

Shelves: socio-politics

Helpful, inspirational, and interesting.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2018 Shawn Birss rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-nonfiction, politics

Though it reads as hastily written (basing most of the history on popcorn accounts from very few sources, especially from the music scene) and incomplete (missing almost all history of antifa resistance outside of Western Europe and the United States) this book is still probably the most comprehensive and in depth report on the history of antifa action as a popular movement that has yet been gathered. It is interesting reading, especially for anyone interested in the rise of skinhead culture dur Though it reads as hastily written (basing most of the history on popcorn accounts from very few sources, especially from the music scene) and incomplete (missing almost all history of antifa resistance outside of Western Europe and the United States) this book is still probably the most comprehensive and in depth report on the history of antifa action as a popular movement that has yet been gathered. It is interesting reading, especially for anyone interested in the rise of skinhead culture during the second wave of punk. It is encouraging for anyone who wants to take seriously the threat of neofascist groups today.

I was glad to find the author confront the issue of violence in antifa action. Though his perspective was a little more liberal than I would have preferred, he does argue for tolerating a diversity of tactics, and judging each action rather than the method itself. His careful tone here will likely make the book more accessible to the curious reader first introduced to the history. I would have appreciated a little more about the philosophy of how targeted, intentional violent acts can be a useful tool in this struggle in particular.

Helpful too would have been a section outlining exactly what fascism is and how it can be identified in different contexts. For example, how do we know that a government or culture is beginning to show signs of fascism before we see white dudes in polo shirts shouting in the streets with tiki torches. By not being precise in his use of the word fascism, the clarity in describing anti-fascism is also muddied.

In truth, I hope that we can one day read a longer and more complete account of antifa organizing that includes more examples of people of colour outside of Western Europe and The United States. South America has stories that would be relevant, as would Eastern Europe. But for a start in getting the story of antifa into the mainstream, this book does its job. I will definitely be getting a copy for myself, and for my union's library.

☠

Trade Paperback, First
Melville House Publishing, September 2017

Four Stars

February 24-27, 2018

☠ ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 15, 2017 Michael rated it really liked it

This is a really good book for anyone unfamiliar with Antifa, especially those who think they just appeared with the rise of Trump. The first part of the book deals with the general history of Antifa from the Western perspective and provides an explanation of why it was formed, what kind of people formed it, and what they wanted to accomplish and how. It really helps to provide a legitimacy to a movement that is frequently belittled and misunderstood in the press. I especially enjoyed Bray's tie ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Anarchist & Radic...: Global Culture of Antifascists	1	11	Jan 06, 2021 12:21AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Politics

159 users

Nonfiction

130 users

History

100 users

Philosophy

32 users

Social Issues > Activism

18 users

Social Movements > Social Justice

12 users

Politics > Political Science

9 users

Audiobook

7 users

Philosophy > Theory

6 users

Sociology

6 users

See top shelves…

About Mark Bray

Mark Bray

58 followers

Mark Bray is a historian of human rights, terrorism, and political radicalism in Modern Europe who was one of the organizers of Occupy Wall Street. He is the author of Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street, and the co-editor of Anarchist Education and the Modern School: A Francisco Ferrer Reader. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Critical Quarterly, R ...more

Books by Mark Bray

Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street

Employment Relations: Theory And Practice

The Shadow Education System: Private Tutoring and Its Implications for Planners

Comparative Education: Continuing Traditions, New Challenges, and New Paradigms

More…

News & Interviews

Readers' Most Anticipated Books of March

Some interesting news for book nerds: According to recent industry research, book sales spiked dramatically in 2020–otherwise a rather...

Trivia About Antifa: The Anti-...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Antifa: The Anti-...

“The tragic irony of modern anti-fascism is that the more successful it is, the more its raison d'etre is called into question. Its greatest successes lie in hypothetical limbo: How many murderous fascist movements have been nipped in the bud over the past 70 years by antifa groups before their violence could metastasize? We will never know--and that's a very good thing indeed.” — 8 likes

“Anti-fascism is many things, but perhaps most fundamentally it is an argument about the historical continuity between different eras of far-right violence and the many forms of collective self-defense that it has necessitated across the globe over the past century.” — 6 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Antifa by Mark Bray

Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Mark Bray

Books by Mark Bray

News & Interviews

Trivia About Antifa: The Anti-...

Quotes from Antifa: The Anti-...

See a Problem?

Preview — Antifa by Mark Bray

Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook

Get A Copy

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Readers also enjoyed

Genres

About Mark Bray

Books by Mark Bray

News & Interviews

Trivia About Antifa: The Anti-...

Quotes from Antifa: The Anti-...

new topic
Discuss This Book