In Racism and Fascism, Toni Morrison outlines ten steps authoritarian regimes use to consolidate power. Among them: construct internal enemies, enlist and control sources and distributors of information, and maintain silence at all costs. Today, far-right leaders across the globe — from India to the US — are following this playbook.
The global political order is being reshaped by these far-right forces. Rather than moving toward equitable, multiracial democracies that prioritise workers, communities and the planet, neoliberal models of exploitation are being further entrenched. At its most extreme, there’s a push to dismantle the state in favour of complete corporate control — explored astutely by Quinn Slobodian. As standards of living worsen for the majority of people and the left fails to offer compelling alternatives, disillusioned workers are turning to the far-right. In Brazil, President Lula’s approval has dropped 20 points in just two months, as the impact of worker precarity hits — I highly recommend reading Rodrigo Nunes on this topic. In the UK, Nigel Farage’s Reform Party and Germany’s Alternativ für Deutschland would both be the largest party in an election right now, according to polls. These aren’t isolated cases — they reflect a broader trend that has long roots.
What’s new is how quickly far-right leaders are learning from one another. Reform backers are trying to bring a US-style ‘big money playbook’ to the UK. Hungary is considering revoking citizenship to stifle dissent. In Argentina, President Javier Milei is using aggressive economic policies to exert control; this piece on why the far right needs violence is excellent. And in the US, Donald Trump is drawing inspiration from Hungary’s Viktor Orbán — a point emphasised in this wise (and sobering) conversation between Anand Giridharadas and Robert Reich.
Fueled by economic crisis, democratic erosion, and social fragmentation, these developments reflect a coordinated global shift toward far-right (nativist) populism. Resisting it demands real solutions that improve lives and counter far-right appeal – or what Isabella Weber calls anti-fascist economics. What can we learn from countries like Mexico and Spain that are bucking the trend? The pace at which things are moving, the chaos and the flooding of information make it hard to see the forest for the trees. Moving forward will require a clear diagnosis of the problem, bold strategies, and the collective will to build power, be courageous and offer hope. This piece by Astra Tayler and Naomi Klein is a must read on what they call “end time fascism”, and how we might respond: “How do we break this apocalyptic fever? First, we help each other face the depth of the depravity that has gripped the hard right in all of our countries. … Second, we counter their apocalyptic narratives with a far better story about how to survive the hard times ahead without leaving anyone behind”.
We hope the resources shared here help deepen our collective understanding of where we are now and how we navigate the future—and perhaps offer a bit of courage.
People are mobilising, organising and getting creative.
- This briefing on spreading courage and 17 tips to combat fear and hopelessness as strategies to tackle the far-right.
- In April, precarious workers went on strike in Brazil, with a general strike in Argentina protesting Milei’s austerity measures. In the UK, people came out in force protesting a landmark Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, excluding trans women. [Brasil de Fato, IG, Vogue]
- A youth-led movement, Life Beyond Work, began with a viral TikTok video; the leader is now the most voted-for left-wing Councillor in Rio de Janeiro. Students in Serbia have cycled 1,400km to Strasbourg in the 6th month of protesting their government, which is responding with crackdowns on free speech. [IG, Balkan Insight]
- A group called Everyone Hates Elon is grabbing attention with a guerrilla marketing campaign in London, escalating their tactics to include a stunt trashing a Tesla; the car will be auctioned to raise money for food banks. Tesla profits have dropped a whopping 71% in value as a result of Musk’s foray into politics. [IG, The New Yorker, New York Times]
- Bernie and AOC’s ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour is bringing record numbers to rallies. But behind the scenes, they’re organising, investing heavily in grassroots online fundraising and building momentum [The American Prospect]
Young people and the far right
- Download this excellent report (you have to create an account on their website here), which offers strategies and tools to engage and mitigate the influence of right-wing and conservative groups on young men and maps the complexities of why so many are moving to the right.
- This piece is a rich overview bringing some much-needed nuance with 12 young researchers offering perspectives on young people and the far right in their respective countries. [European Democracy Hub]
- This podcast unpacks the gendered nuances of online radicalisation, questions why female susceptibility is so often overlooked and asks how we combat this form of propaganda, with fitness and dieting communities used to radicalise young women into the far right. [the Dazed and Discoursed Podcast, OpenDemocracy]
- Escaping the alt-right pipeline. Jimmy the Giant is a popular YouTuber who u-turned from heading down the right-wing pipeline of self-improvement gurus. This conversation explores his journey and the online (far-right) world, capturing young people, with a focus on young men. [In Solidarity, an Open Democracy Podcast]
Framing, media & a free online course
- This video conversation between Anat Shenker-Osario and Michael Podhorzer on fascism and the English language highlights the importance of naming things accurately, for example, using regime rather than government or administration, to talk about Trump. It’s based on this guide. [Weekend Reading, ASO Communications]
- Kevin Smith has put together a handy resource on using broadcast media to cut through the noise, based on seven years training and booking progressives. tl,dr; doing media is a key strategy for progressive change, so invest in it. [LinkedIn]
- The People’s Academy is an online course starting in April that bridges theory, history, and strategy to underpin our common struggle for a better world, with the lens of revolutionary movements throughout the history of the Global South. [Progressive Internationalist]
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