The Bunker – News without the nonsense Could it happen here? The threat of a British version of MAGA
Nov 4, 2025
Prof. Roger Griffin, Emeritus Professor in Modern History at Oxford Brookes University and a leading expert on fascism, dives into the potential rise of a British version of MAGA. He discusses the nuances between American populism and the British far-right, explaining that threats to liberal democracy can emerge without being strictly fascist. Griffin emphasizes the importance of defending democratic values and warns against complacency, urging ordinary citizens to mobilize against rising authoritarianism and engage in democratic processes to resist intolerance.
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Flagged Roundabout In Oxford
- Roger Griffin describes being shocked by a fully flagged roundabout on the outskirts of Oxford after returning from Italy.
- The sight illustrated how visible nationalist symbolism has become even in familiar British spaces.
Fascism Is A Specific Revolutionary Model
- Fascism is a specific revolutionary ideology that seeks a radically new totalitarian state beyond liberal democracy.
- Many contemporary right-wing movements share components of fascism but do not meet that full definition.
De-Liberalization, Not Always Full Fascism
- The main danger now is de-liberalization, where democratic institutions are hollowed out rather than replaced by a single-party totalitarian state.
- Illiberal leaders like Viktor Orban show how democracy can remain while losing its liberal, humanistic core.
