Meet the Philosopher Behind the Ideology of Anti-Fascists | Intellectual Takeout
"In our last article on fascism, we promised we would explore the philosophical roots of Antifa in order to better understand how they justify the use of fascist tactics in the name of fighting it.
Antifa’s fascist tendencies are apparent by a simple surface diagnosis, but a deeper analysis reveals the bankrupt ideology that fuels the movement.
Defining fascism is no simple task.
In 2016, Merriam-Webster noted it was the most-searched term in its online dictionary.
There’s a reason for this: nobody really knows what fascism is.
Even among academics, there is little consensus.
“Scholars of fascism do not agree on what fascism means,” The Atlantic noted, “nor, for that matter, do fascist scholars.”
On one point, however, scholars are
united.
A
key component of fascism, one
found in virtually every definition, is the idea that it
- involves suppression of political opposition
- and the use of “redemptive violence” against ideological rivals to expand influence and power.
Since Antifa routinely use violence and intimidation to prevent political opponents from assembling and publicly defend these tactics as a means to their ends,
their fascist tendencies are self-evident.
To most, this connection is clear.
...the root of the modern anti-fascist ideology, and understanding the philosophical foundations illuminates why Antifa and others think
they have license to behave like fascists in the name of fighting them."
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