The Fascism this Time: and the Global Future of Democracy

"... lucidly written and eye-opening, a timely and conscientious ringing of the bells." Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, author of Impossible Revolution: Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy A new wave of fascism is inundating the world under the guise of rightwing populism, but the fascism this time has little to do with taking down elites-and it is every bit as dangerous as the last. Fascism can be identified by its toxic brew of racism, sexism, nationalism, and authoritarianism. It is organized around a cult of personality, and it mobilizes ressentiment in senseless acts of nihilism. Fascist movements are dangerous because they harness nationalist aggression against minorities, but their subtler danger lies in their turn against reality. They reject science and rationality because they are seen as a threat, and since the world cannot be turned off, fascists try to tear it down instead. Fascists seek to escape the burden of freedom, stemming from democracy and development, and return to a mythologized patriarchy. Yet, in a vast and complex world, where survival requires adaptation, and adaptation flexibility, their forced regression always ends in destruction. The Fascism This Time elucidates a psychosocial model of fascism which predicted that Trump's election would lead to immigrant concentration camps, an accelerated assault on democratic institutions, a striking global increase in authoritarianism and crimes against humanity, and all the starvation of Yemen. It is an original and perceptive account tying the fascism this time to the overwhelming challenges with which the world is now faced. And it is a sweeping defense of democracy, inspiring action and reflection, and sparkling with insights, in the esteemed tradition of Hannah Arendt and Alexis de Tocqueville.