6. The Best Way to Fight Fascism is to Fight Neoliberalism

Crawdads and Taters: Red State Rebels

In this episode, we want to expand on our last episode, where we described what neoliberalism is, and the resulting economic inequality and class resentment that has been brewing across the global political spectrum, following 40-plus years of global capitalism and neoliberalism. Today, we want to make the case for why opposing neoliberalism is necessary in order to defeat fascism.

"A government that delivers for people inoculates them against the appeals of fascist demagogues." - Nathan J. Robinson

We can see, throughout recent world history, when economic inequality is surging and working-class resentment is high, fascist and right-wing demagogues are able to use conservative social values, religious conservatism, patriarchy, white supremacy, settler colonialism (in the case of the United States), and imperialism to rally their conservative base in order to obtain political power. And once in power, they enact hyper-capitalist agendas that deprive the working-class of basic material needs and shift the political spectrum to the right, while enriching transnational capitalists.

Conversely, when socialist, indigenous, and working-class movements take hold politically, and there is a redistribution of wealth across classes, as well as a strong social safety net for everyone, fascists are not able to get a foothold politically, and their movements tend to dissipate or go underground.

This is why we argue that opposing neoliberalism and supporting international working-class movements, as well as indigenous and abolition movements, is absolutely essential for countering global fascism and a global police state.

Related Readings

Almost one in three of Republicans say violence may be necessary to ‘save’ US

Trump Supporters at Iowa Rally See 'Civil War Coming,' Say He Will 'Save the World'

The rise of domestic extremism in America

Five shocking facts about extreme global inequality and how to even it up

“An Outrage”: House Passes Largest Military Budget in Generations Despite End of Afghanistan War

Biden is approving more oil and gas drilling permits on public lands than Trump, analysis finds

US military is a bigger polluter than as many as 140 countries – shrinking this war machine is a must

In 2021, the Best Way to Fight Neofascist Republicans Is to Fight Neoliberal Democrats

Let’s Remember How Authoritarianism Takes Hold