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How Fascism Works
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them | Jason Stanley
17 posts | 16 read | 27 to read
Reveals how the liberties of the people wither when voters embrace politicians who promote the divisive politics of us versus them.David Cay Johnston, author of The Making of Donald Trump and Its Even Worse Than You Think This is an important and essential book.Errol Morris, filmmaker and author of The Ashtray 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 dont have to be fascist to suffer from fascist politics. In fact, fascisms 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 politicsthe 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 nations 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. 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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Bookish.SAM
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Pickpick

Using historic and current examples, Stanley does a great job of clearly explaining what fascism is and that it (terrifyingly) appears alive and well in many parts of the world.
The para above refers specifically to the U.S. and while it seems to glaringly evident I‘m surprised at how many are leaning into it.

I‘m not even American and this fills me with anxiety.

Not Marlowe tho, she doesn‘t care. Sometimes wish I was a 🐱.🤷🏻‍♀️

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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

A five star read, or should I say listen. Fascistic tendencies can occur anytime,anywhere.More people need to know the basics of how this all works.An impressive read that I need to add to the permanent collection. I borrowed it on Libby ,the last one I borrowed that I needed to own was the impressive & concise On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

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TheBookHippie
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GingerAntics I‘m not at all surprised he‘s a fascist, honestly, but it‘s terrifying to see it laid out and “proven.” 3y
Kimzey Yep 🤔 3y
40 likes3 comments
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TheBookHippie
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GingerAntics It just keeps getting worse. We have GOT to vote him out!!! 3y
Kimzey 🗳 3y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I voted already. ✊🏼 3y
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TheBookHippie @Kimzey voted yesterday ✊🏼 3y
GingerAntics So did I. ✊🏻 3y
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics now we wait.... 3y
GingerAntics 🤞🏻 3y
Kimzey @TheBookHippie Yay! 👍🏻 I haven‘t voted yet. But will do! 3y
37 likes8 comments
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MargaretPinardAuthor
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Highlighting my wingback maybe more than the book...
It‘s a good read but parts of it are confusingly written, for some simple a structure...
Making me realize how little I learned about Lee-WW2 Germany though too...

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MargaretPinardAuthor
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Remixed stack to work with...tension headache today but got through a few pages of this one before having to stare at the ceiling...
See any you‘ve got on your list or are curious about?
#roughday #fascismwillberougher #khive #bookstack #tbr #unitedstates

marleed Station Eleven is very timely. I hope you feel better soon! 4y
Ruthiella Margaret the First is on my TBR! 😀 4y
MargaretPinardAuthor Marleed thanks—3 Tylenol and a walk did wonders! 4y
MargaretPinardAuthor And @Ruthiella yay! Good name, that, and starts off very cinematic and intriguing 🤞🏾 4y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Pickpick

In some of the social media world, the word fascism is getting used a LOT lately. I heard this author speak with a favorite author of mine. Immediately put the book on hold at the library. I want to understand what this kind of politics is and isn‘t. Stanley makes is uber clear, with examples across locations and time periods. Highly recommend if you appreciate political topics.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2020

BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m using this for my #aboutimmigration pick in #nonfictionchallenge2020 because he talks so much about using immigrants and refugees as a wedge to divide countries into “us” and “them.” @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage p.s. On my blog post, the tweets in the photo aren‘t out of focus. Did the blurring in deference to people here who get angry about political posts. 🧐 (edited) 4y
TheBookHippie I really got a ton out of this- also the blurring 🤣🤣😬🤦🏽‍♀️ 4y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheBookHippie Glad to help. The book is so worth the time. And scary how pertinent it is. Yeah, the blurring. I was part of a heated convo here last week around whether political posts are “appropriate” here on Litsy. Honestly, I am reading more political stuff b/c of Litsy. Not in spite of it. 4y
Cuilin Just ordered this online. Thanks. Also excuse my ignorance what is the blurring? (edited) 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cuilin I blurred part of the photo I posted here. But not on my blog or other places I posted this. Hope you get a lot out of the book! (edited) 4y
Suet624 Political posts “appropriate”? Ugh. Sorry to see that was brought up. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Suet624 Yeah, not on one of my posts. But someone else was getting a “lesson” in how “we don‘t do this here.” I had to jump in and say that in fact we do talk politics here. And the commenter got huffy and blocked me and the original poster. It was sad to see here. But I‘m not all that surprised. 4y
Suet624 Well that‘s unfortunate. I suppose I wouldn‘t like seeing a bunch of trump-loving posts but still... 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Suet624 It is. There are better tools built into all social media than giving lectures. Just keep scrolling or unfollow the person. I‘ve done exactly that here and in all the other platforms I participate in. Anyway ... we move on. 4y
86 likes8 stack adds10 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Well, this reminds me of the sad state of COVID19 federal support, among other things.

Leftcoastzen Indeed 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Leftcoastzen I have a lot more quotes from this. And I am writing the review. It is short, very clear, helpful, and very scary. So many of his points are right in the headlines. Every freaking day. 4y
66 likes2 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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When the sweetie (pictured above) leaves the lights on and drains the battery, a reader gets more time to read her new library book. (When she‘s not on Litsy and Twitter ...)

#roadtripfromhell #gottachargetheemergencycharger #howmydaywent

KVanRead Yikes! Hope it‘s going better now 😊 4y
KVanRead Also hmm, who does this quote remind me of 🧐🍊🤡😂 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @KVanRead Yes, we got back on the road and are home now. Yay! Interestingly, that quote is from a journalist about the current government of India. But it might resemble someone who is a very stable genius. 🧐🤨🥵 4y
KVanRead Indeed and I think he has also said good things about Modi‘s government. 😔 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @KVanRead he definitely has ... 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4y
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Pedrocamacho
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Pickpick

The author managed to update this book to include a preface chapter that deals with COVID-19 that seems to have been written in April. The book was originally published in 2018. Obviously, with Trump in the White House, this book remains relevant. However, the author thinks (and I agree) that the American facist streak runs much deeper and finds a helpful home in racism.

BarbaraTheBibliophage Great review. I‘m just about finished with this. Yup, a lot of his examples hit me right in the solar plexus. Even when he didn‘t mention 45. 4y
Pedrocamacho Definitely @BarbaraTheBibliophage, facism and its causes will be with us long after current national nightmare. I‘ve been in that mindset since 2016 and this book helped me better articulate my thoughts. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Completely agree. I borrowed this from the library but will probably but so I have it to refer to—since I think I‘ll need it. Also really loved and refer to regularly— 4y
Pedrocamacho Awesome! Thank you for the recommendation, @BarbaraTheBibliophage 4y
10 likes4 comments
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GoBears84
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MarriedtoMrT
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My most pressing (and realistic) reading goal for 2019 is to finish and review these books I started in 2018. I‘ve actually completed the tagged but in audio so now I‘m going through the print to find my favorite quotes. The other three have holds (and I‘m paying overdue fines on Your Black Friend). I like them all but turned to romance the last few weeks to cope with holiday and after holiday stress.

Gipper‘s guarding the pile. 😼

That-Bookish-Hiker Look at the precious kitty! 😻 5y
MarriedtoMrT @That-Bookish-Hiker He‘s got rbf but he‘s the sweetest cat. And I‘m obsessed with his eyes. 5y
BookBabe 😻 5y
LauraBeth He‘s gorgeous 😻 5y
Dragon 😻 5y
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Misanthropester
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Pickpick

In the era of #Trump where racism & authoritarianism has become emboldened, this is a necessary read. Systematically assessing and analyzing the varied techniques and tactics used by fascists while showing how politicians can use fascism without being fascist
#politics

Full review: http://misanthropester.com/2018/11/24/how-fascism-works-by-jason-stanley/

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MarriedtoMrT
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It was another gorgeous fall day, perfect for an #audiowalk. The book (tagged) is fascinating and eye-opening and scary.

MCYmermaid Great sticker placement! 5y
booksandsympathy Those trees! 😍😍 5y
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ReadingSusan
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Well this was a terrifying read. 😭😭😭

Samplergal Good for the Halloween season? 😬 6y
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Jnnlb
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Pickpick

Fascism is iniguitous. It creeps into the many weaknesses of democracy until the system is fatally damaged. In How Facism Works, Jason Stanley lists the various ways that facism undermines democracy.
Facism didn‘t end in Nazi Germany.It becomes clear that facism is not a tidal wave of the past but is the riptide that flows beneath the surface of the river of our civilization. #netgalley full review at thejwordpress.wordpress.com