"Antifascism is the expression of collective self-defense." ---- No,
fascism did not disappear on May 8, 1945. Networks have always operated
since that date, the survivors have continued their destructive goals.
Today, demonstrations, publications, and election results show that the
danger is permanent in America, in Europe. It has never died in Spain,
Italy, France, Great Britain... The recent anti-immigrant demonstrations
in this country highlight that behind an appearance of tolerance, an
odious racism reigns under the surface. Mark Bray's book, Antifascism,
Its Past, Present and Future, published by Lux Editions, is particularly
appropriate to explain the fascist phenomenon and the actions against
it. Drawing on numerous interviews with anti-fascists from around the
world, he lists the tactics adopted by the movement and analyzes its
philosophy. "I argue that militant anti-fascism is a sensible and
historically based response to the fascist threat that persisted after
1945 - and that has never been more alive than in recent years."
Let us recall the phrase attributed to Buenaventura Durruti: "Fascism is
not discussed. It is fought..."
Where did fascism come from? From Italy, to use a classic answer with
Mussolini and his ilk? It is difficult to give a strict definition
because its construction is so complex and varies from country to
country. For the historian Robert Paxton, fascists "reject all universal
forms in favor of the success of chosen peoples in a Darwinian struggle
for supremacy." He notes that fascism is marked by "an obsessive
preoccupation with the decline of society, with its humiliation and
victimization, with the compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity."
The activists, convinced nationalists, are supervised by a party founded
on the masses in collaboration with the elites. It sweeps away the
ideological recuperations of the left, abandons democratic freedoms in
favor of a policy of redemptive violence. "A dual objective of internal
cleansing and external expansion." Everyone can think of Nazism, Italian
fascism but also more recent attitudes and statements in France and
Great Britain.
How to fight?
To show one's opposition, should one be content to march with other
slogans? Write columns in the media? Should one unite the forces of the
left? Adopt a legalistic approach or, on the contrary, a frontal
struggle? "In general, this strategic debate around the interpretations
of antifascism divides the left." Still according to Mark Bray, "After
Auschwitz and Treblinka, antifascists promised to fight to the death the
possibility for organized Nazis to say anything." In fine, "Antifascism
is the expression of collective self-defense."
To accompany the reader in his analysis, Mark Bray develops a historical
fresco that will find its source in the Action Française that the
historian Nolte considers as the first proto-fascist group. Paxton who
underlines the role of the Ku Klux Klan. Faced with the violence of
fascist groups, the forces of the left therefore have varied responses.
Thus in Germany, let us underline those of the anarchists with in
particular the creation of the anarchist militia Schwarze Scharen (Black
Clouds) founded in 1929 to protect meetings. The hesitation-waltz of the
socialists, the opposition with the communists largely contributed to
the paralysis of the left.
Among the post-war myths, that of a united England to preserve democracy
against Nazism makes us forget how powerful the extreme right was before
the war with the movement of a certain Mosley. The historical journey up
to the current struggles allows us to understand and put into
perspective to better measure the actions to be taken today.
Lessons from the past
Mark Bray draws five lessons from this journey.
- Fascist revolutions never succeeded. The fascists won power legally.
- Many anti-fascist leaders before the war did not measure the danger of
fascism in time.
- Socialist and communist leaders were slower than their base to react.
- Fascism steals the left's ideology, strategies, imagery and culture.
- Fascism does not need many fascists to come about.
Some statements deserve debate and this is one of the interests of this
book. I would add that the chapter on freedom of expression should also
provide food for thought. Is there freedom for the enemies of freedom?
Finally, everyday antifascism opens up forms of action to preserve human
society.
* Mark Bray
Antifascism, its past, present and future
Ed. Lux, 2024
https://monde-libertaire.fr/?articlen=8024
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
fascism did not disappear on May 8, 1945. Networks have always operated
since that date, the survivors have continued their destructive goals.
Today, demonstrations, publications, and election results show that the
danger is permanent in America, in Europe. It has never died in Spain,
Italy, France, Great Britain... The recent anti-immigrant demonstrations
in this country highlight that behind an appearance of tolerance, an
odious racism reigns under the surface. Mark Bray's book, Antifascism,
Its Past, Present and Future, published by Lux Editions, is particularly
appropriate to explain the fascist phenomenon and the actions against
it. Drawing on numerous interviews with anti-fascists from around the
world, he lists the tactics adopted by the movement and analyzes its
philosophy. "I argue that militant anti-fascism is a sensible and
historically based response to the fascist threat that persisted after
1945 - and that has never been more alive than in recent years."
Let us recall the phrase attributed to Buenaventura Durruti: "Fascism is
not discussed. It is fought..."
Where did fascism come from? From Italy, to use a classic answer with
Mussolini and his ilk? It is difficult to give a strict definition
because its construction is so complex and varies from country to
country. For the historian Robert Paxton, fascists "reject all universal
forms in favor of the success of chosen peoples in a Darwinian struggle
for supremacy." He notes that fascism is marked by "an obsessive
preoccupation with the decline of society, with its humiliation and
victimization, with the compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity."
The activists, convinced nationalists, are supervised by a party founded
on the masses in collaboration with the elites. It sweeps away the
ideological recuperations of the left, abandons democratic freedoms in
favor of a policy of redemptive violence. "A dual objective of internal
cleansing and external expansion." Everyone can think of Nazism, Italian
fascism but also more recent attitudes and statements in France and
Great Britain.
How to fight?
To show one's opposition, should one be content to march with other
slogans? Write columns in the media? Should one unite the forces of the
left? Adopt a legalistic approach or, on the contrary, a frontal
struggle? "In general, this strategic debate around the interpretations
of antifascism divides the left." Still according to Mark Bray, "After
Auschwitz and Treblinka, antifascists promised to fight to the death the
possibility for organized Nazis to say anything." In fine, "Antifascism
is the expression of collective self-defense."
To accompany the reader in his analysis, Mark Bray develops a historical
fresco that will find its source in the Action Française that the
historian Nolte considers as the first proto-fascist group. Paxton who
underlines the role of the Ku Klux Klan. Faced with the violence of
fascist groups, the forces of the left therefore have varied responses.
Thus in Germany, let us underline those of the anarchists with in
particular the creation of the anarchist militia Schwarze Scharen (Black
Clouds) founded in 1929 to protect meetings. The hesitation-waltz of the
socialists, the opposition with the communists largely contributed to
the paralysis of the left.
Among the post-war myths, that of a united England to preserve democracy
against Nazism makes us forget how powerful the extreme right was before
the war with the movement of a certain Mosley. The historical journey up
to the current struggles allows us to understand and put into
perspective to better measure the actions to be taken today.
Lessons from the past
Mark Bray draws five lessons from this journey.
- Fascist revolutions never succeeded. The fascists won power legally.
- Many anti-fascist leaders before the war did not measure the danger of
fascism in time.
- Socialist and communist leaders were slower than their base to react.
- Fascism steals the left's ideology, strategies, imagery and culture.
- Fascism does not need many fascists to come about.
Some statements deserve debate and this is one of the interests of this
book. I would add that the chapter on freedom of expression should also
provide food for thought. Is there freedom for the enemies of freedom?
Finally, everyday antifascism opens up forms of action to preserve human
society.
* Mark Bray
Antifascism, its past, present and future
Ed. Lux, 2024
https://monde-libertaire.fr/?articlen=8024
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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