What is fascism and how can we fight it?

In the 1930s, mass fascist movements smashed the workers’ organisations. Today, far-right and right-populist forces are again growing in prominence. So what can we learn from history?

What exactly is fascism? Is a fascist dictatorship possible today? What distinguishes it from other authoritarian regimes?

Do these political differences mean tactical differences in how workers should fight them? What’s the difference between a ‘popular front’ and a ‘united front’? And why do you have to be anti-capitalist to succeed as an anti-fascist?

This episode of Socialism looks at fighting anti-worker reaction: Trotsky, fascism and the ‘united front’.

The CWI is producing a new book on Trotsky’s life and ideas for the 80th anniversary of his assassination, which this podcast series is following. It’s called ‘Leon Trotsky - A Revolutionary Whose Ideas Couldn’t Be Killed’. You can pre-order it now at www.leftbooks.co.uk.

Further listening and reading

Socialism episode 4. Fighting the racist far right: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/re-run-4-fighting-the-racist-far-right

Socialism episode 42. You can't have capitalism without racism: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/72-you-cant-have-capitalism-without-racism

Fascism: What It Is and How to Fight It (Trotsky): http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/950002679/Products/TROT0001

The Communist International and the fascist threat: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/222/comintern.html

The character of the far-right threat: http://socialismtoday.org/archive/66/farRight.html

The alt-right threat: http://socialismtoday.org/the-alt-right-threat

The danger of the far right: http://socialismtoday.org/the-danger-of-the-far-right