The LRB Podcast Is this fascism?
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Jun 4, 2025 Daniel Trilling, author and expert on far-right politics, delves into the resurgence of right-wing nationalism and its potential ties to fascism. He and TJ unpack the historical evolution of far-right movements, dissect complex definitions of fascism, and explore the emotional undercurrents—like resentment and fear—driving this ideology. They also discuss how climate crisis anxieties are being manipulated by far-right thinkers and the consequences for national identity, wrapping up with insights into Poland's women's rights movement in the face of such threats.
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Reporter Queries Fascism Definition
- Daniel Trilling shares personal experience reporting on Britain's far right for 15 years, questioning if it qualifies as fascism.
- He observed far right groups like the BNP mixing Nazi ideology with local election issues, raising complex questions about definitions.
Two Views on Fascism
- Fascism definitions split into historicist (specific to interwar Europe) and essentialist (an enduring urge or tendency).
- This dichotomy influences how one measures present far-right movements against past fascism.
Distinguishing Current Threats
- Current far-right dangers should not be dismissed even if they aren't strictly fascism.
- Existing authoritarianism, like EU detention camps, poses real threats independent of fascism debates.