Effective Antifascism Requires Understanding Fascism / Joan Braune
Mar 13, 2024
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Joan Braune discusses the intricacies of fascism, emphasizing the need to understand its roots to combat its influence effectively. The conversation explores the history of fascist movements in the Pacific Northwest, challenges in using policing to address fascism, and the urgent need for active resistance against fascism. Discussions also touch on hate crimes, responses to anti-Semitism, and reflections on past episodes.
Understanding fascism's relationship with power and capitalism is essential for countering it effectively.
Fascist ideologies exploit vulnerabilities by offering false senses of identity and purpose.
Effective anti-fascist efforts require protecting communities, understanding recruitment tactics, and addressing systemic power structures.
Deep dives
Fascism and Power Dynamics
Fascism aligns with sources of power and maintains a close relationship with capitalism. Understanding fascism encompasses its social movement seeking power and the individual motivations behind it. Recognizing fascism's intertwined nature with existing power structures is crucial in developing effective strategies against it.
Impact of Trauma and Crisis on Fascism
Fascist movements capitalize on crises and alienation under capitalism, exploiting vulnerabilities to recruit members. The promise of fulfilling a void with narratives of victimhood and restoration to power drives individuals into fascist ideologies, often unsustainably. Facism's appeal lies in offering a false sense of identity and purpose, perpetuated by a violent and hierarchical worldview.
Challenges of Anti-Fascist Strategies
Anti-fascist actions face complexities in engaging with fascist movements, balancing empathy with boundaries, and countering recruitment tactics. Emphasizing protection of communities over individual redemption, understanding recruitment drivers beyond trauma, and assessing policing's limitations in combating fascism are crucial for effective anti-fascist efforts.
Misleading Acts of Charity by Identitarian Movements
Identitarian movements engage in deceptive acts of charity that serve to further their discriminatory agendas. Distributing food to homeless individuals is used as a facade to promote discriminatory ideologies, targeting specific ethnic and religious groups. By exploiting vulnerable populations, these movements attempt to garner support while concealing their true intentions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and countering such deceptive practices.
The Role of Political Power in Enabling Fascism
The discussion delves into the relationship between political power dynamics and the rise of fascism. Criticism is directed at both Democratic and Republican parties for potentially fostering fascist tendencies through their actions or inactions. The conversation underscores the significance of understanding the systemic structures that perpetuate fascism and calls for a more proactive approach in combating its resurgence through ethical research and vigilance.
We wrap up the week with lecturer in philosophy at Gonzaga University, Joan Braune who will speak with us about her book, "Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements: From Void to Hope." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.
Check out Joan's book here: https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-and-Countering-Fascist-Movements-From-Void-to-Hope/Braune/p/book/9780367696986
Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access weekly bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thisishell
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