Breaking Down the Far Right: Strategies for Resistance
August 21, 2024
Source: Resilience
"Rise Together" Solidarity is the exciting theme of Cheryl Braganza’s vibrant painting of women marching for justice in Mumbai, India. Paired with Aaron Goggans’s (Black Lives Matter) insightful words, it spurs our dedication to forge a unified resistance against the rightwing assaults on fairness and justice. http://picturetrail.com/cherylbraganza https://aarongoggans.com | Image via Heidi De Vries/Flickr
The far-right riots last week in the UK were batted aside by many liberal commentators as an inconvenience. A spontaneous, misinformed outburst of social media and “thugs”. In reality, they were a product of neoliberalism and continued colonial racism. The combination has impoverished the majority, enriched the 1% and blamed the resulting problems on migrants. If left unchecked, the far-right will capture the weak, liberal regime and add a British far-right leader to the trend of Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, and Narendra Modi in India. All of these figures represent a broader shift to the right in many liberal democracies, where they manage to gain power through the very institutions meant to protect democracy.
It’s time to break down the key factors behind this rise and offer a blueprint for resistance. One that calls out the contradictions of liberalism and builds the path for a democratic revolution.
The Far Right and Liberal Democracy
Liberal democracy, with its emphasis on elections, the rule of law, and separation of powers, is often hailed as a model of governance. However, this system emerged alongside Western colonialism and has always had contradictions. For instance, while promoting freedom at home, these liberal democracies were simultaneously colonising and exploiting large parts of the world. These contradictions are exploited by the far-right to take over liberal institutions and build the keys of fascist power seen in the 1930s.
The far right doesn’t need to overthrow democracy; instead, it operates within democratic institutions, gradually turning them into tools for their agenda. This isn’t a flaw in the liberal system—it’s a feature. Neoliberalism, a form of capitalism that prioritises the free market above all else, has eroded the social welfare systems that once softened the harsh edges of capitalism. As these safety nets disappear, far-right policies gain ground, feeding off the failures of neoliberal governance.
This is what authors Vijay Prashad and Aijaz Ahmad have called the “Intimate Embrace” between Liberalism and the Far Right. They point out that liberalism often paves the way for the far right by embracing policies that undermine the welfare state, militarise society, and increase repression. This isn’t a new phenomenon—it’s rooted in the very history of capitalism.
After World War II, many believed that fascism was defeated, but Marxists recognized that the conditions that gave rise to it—capitalism’s contradictions—remained. The far right is not a relic of the past; it is a recurring response to crises within capitalism. In the last 30 years of “hyper capitalism” and ecological collapse, this threat is on the rise. Before we dive into our response, let’s make sure we know how to spot and call out a fascist power grab.
Ten Signs of Far-Right PowerManipulation of Democratic Institutions: The far right consolidates power by subtly infiltrating educational systems, government agencies, and media to normalise their ideas. They leverage wealthy backers to fund and support politicians who will champion their agenda, ensuring loyalty and advancing their goals of centralising authority.
Privatisation of State Functions: The far right supports the privatisation of state services, weakening the government’s ability to function effectively while empowering private interests aligned with their goals.
Repressive State Apparatus: The far right uses the state’s repressive tools—police, surveillance, and laws—to silence opposition and dismantle leftist movements.
Controlled Violence: The far right incites just enough violence to create fear and division but avoids enough to be directly associated with it, allowing them to maintain plausible deniability.
Appeal to Alienation: Advanced capitalism creates isolation and alienation, which the far right exploits by offering a sense of belonging through nationalism, religion, and other forms of identity politics.
Media Manipulation: By allying with private media and using social media, the far right spreads its ideas widely, creating a sense of urgency and mobilising people based on fear and resentment.
Infiltration of Society: The far right establishes itself in various social sectors, from sports clubs to religious organisations, building a mass base by exploiting majoritarian identities.
Pseudo-Populism: The far right pretends to represent “the people” against “the elites,” but in reality, they are deeply connected to the very oligarchs they claim to oppose.
International Networks: The far right is not just a national phenomenon but an international movement, with networks, like Steve Bannon’s The Movement, which operate across countries that share resources, strategies, and ideology.
Global North vs. Global South: While far-right movements in the Global North focus on defending imperialist privileges, in the Global South, they often seek to undermine sovereignty and promote instability.
Building The Democratic Alternative
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anyone fighting against the far right. It’s not enough to oppose their policies in isolation; revolutionaries must recognize the deep connection between liberal democracy and the far right. This means building a movement that addresses the root causes of far-right politics—namely, the failures of neoliberalism and the alienation created by advanced capitalism.
Therefore we must challenge not just the far right but also the existing liberal institutions that enable it. This involves grassroots organising through local assemblies, like Cooperation Hull, that genuinely amplify people’s voices and operate independently of the compromised institutions. This shift will create real pathways to power— by building alternative institutions, organised mass protest (like rent and tax strikes), and by electing radical independents, such as Assemble candidates, who resist further cuts to public services. Community organising, such as door knocking and phone banking, should evolve from mere vote-gathering to an ongoing commitment to build participatory democratic cultures capable of facing future challenges.
Success hinges on a new communal narrative that counters the nihilistic allure of far-right ideologies. In a world where neoliberalism’s shallow individualism is failing, our resistance must demonstrate that we are not mere consumers. True community arises through confrontation, and such confrontation can only be meaningful if it is deeply rooted in the community itself. This means building solidarity across different social movements, and creating alternative institutions that can meet people’s needs without resorting to the far right’s divisive and repressive tactics.
In this struggle, it’s important to remember that the far right thrives on fear, isolation, and anger. By building a movement based on solidarity, compassion, and a shared vision of a just society, we can offer a powerful alternative to the politics of hate and division.
The fight against the far right is not just a political struggle—it’s a battle for the soul of society. By understanding the roots of this movement and organising effectively against it, we can create a world where justice, equality, and true democracy are more than just ideals, but realities for all.
Sign up for Assemble
Robin Boardman is a languages student and one of the cofounders of Extinction Rebellion. He helped to lead a successful campaign to get the University of Bristol to divest its portfolio of £2m from fossil fuels and has been an XR spokesperson on various outlets such as the BBC, LBC and Sky News. He blogs at: robinboardman.com
"Rise Together" Solidarity is the exciting theme of Cheryl Braganza’s vibrant painting of women marching for justice in Mumbai, India. Paired with Aaron Goggans’s (Black Lives Matter) insightful words, it spurs our dedication to forge a unified resistance against the rightwing assaults on fairness and justice. http://picturetrail.com/cherylbraganza https://aarongoggans.com | Image via Heidi De Vries/Flickr
The far-right riots last week in the UK were batted aside by many liberal commentators as an inconvenience. A spontaneous, misinformed outburst of social media and “thugs”. In reality, they were a product of neoliberalism and continued colonial racism. The combination has impoverished the majority, enriched the 1% and blamed the resulting problems on migrants. If left unchecked, the far-right will capture the weak, liberal regime and add a British far-right leader to the trend of Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, and Narendra Modi in India. All of these figures represent a broader shift to the right in many liberal democracies, where they manage to gain power through the very institutions meant to protect democracy.
It’s time to break down the key factors behind this rise and offer a blueprint for resistance. One that calls out the contradictions of liberalism and builds the path for a democratic revolution.
The Far Right and Liberal Democracy
Liberal democracy, with its emphasis on elections, the rule of law, and separation of powers, is often hailed as a model of governance. However, this system emerged alongside Western colonialism and has always had contradictions. For instance, while promoting freedom at home, these liberal democracies were simultaneously colonising and exploiting large parts of the world. These contradictions are exploited by the far-right to take over liberal institutions and build the keys of fascist power seen in the 1930s.
The far right doesn’t need to overthrow democracy; instead, it operates within democratic institutions, gradually turning them into tools for their agenda. This isn’t a flaw in the liberal system—it’s a feature. Neoliberalism, a form of capitalism that prioritises the free market above all else, has eroded the social welfare systems that once softened the harsh edges of capitalism. As these safety nets disappear, far-right policies gain ground, feeding off the failures of neoliberal governance.
This is what authors Vijay Prashad and Aijaz Ahmad have called the “Intimate Embrace” between Liberalism and the Far Right. They point out that liberalism often paves the way for the far right by embracing policies that undermine the welfare state, militarise society, and increase repression. This isn’t a new phenomenon—it’s rooted in the very history of capitalism.
After World War II, many believed that fascism was defeated, but Marxists recognized that the conditions that gave rise to it—capitalism’s contradictions—remained. The far right is not a relic of the past; it is a recurring response to crises within capitalism. In the last 30 years of “hyper capitalism” and ecological collapse, this threat is on the rise. Before we dive into our response, let’s make sure we know how to spot and call out a fascist power grab.
Ten Signs of Far-Right PowerManipulation of Democratic Institutions: The far right consolidates power by subtly infiltrating educational systems, government agencies, and media to normalise their ideas. They leverage wealthy backers to fund and support politicians who will champion their agenda, ensuring loyalty and advancing their goals of centralising authority.
Privatisation of State Functions: The far right supports the privatisation of state services, weakening the government’s ability to function effectively while empowering private interests aligned with their goals.
Repressive State Apparatus: The far right uses the state’s repressive tools—police, surveillance, and laws—to silence opposition and dismantle leftist movements.
Controlled Violence: The far right incites just enough violence to create fear and division but avoids enough to be directly associated with it, allowing them to maintain plausible deniability.
Appeal to Alienation: Advanced capitalism creates isolation and alienation, which the far right exploits by offering a sense of belonging through nationalism, religion, and other forms of identity politics.
Media Manipulation: By allying with private media and using social media, the far right spreads its ideas widely, creating a sense of urgency and mobilising people based on fear and resentment.
Infiltration of Society: The far right establishes itself in various social sectors, from sports clubs to religious organisations, building a mass base by exploiting majoritarian identities.
Pseudo-Populism: The far right pretends to represent “the people” against “the elites,” but in reality, they are deeply connected to the very oligarchs they claim to oppose.
International Networks: The far right is not just a national phenomenon but an international movement, with networks, like Steve Bannon’s The Movement, which operate across countries that share resources, strategies, and ideology.
Global North vs. Global South: While far-right movements in the Global North focus on defending imperialist privileges, in the Global South, they often seek to undermine sovereignty and promote instability.
Building The Democratic Alternative
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anyone fighting against the far right. It’s not enough to oppose their policies in isolation; revolutionaries must recognize the deep connection between liberal democracy and the far right. This means building a movement that addresses the root causes of far-right politics—namely, the failures of neoliberalism and the alienation created by advanced capitalism.
Therefore we must challenge not just the far right but also the existing liberal institutions that enable it. This involves grassroots organising through local assemblies, like Cooperation Hull, that genuinely amplify people’s voices and operate independently of the compromised institutions. This shift will create real pathways to power— by building alternative institutions, organised mass protest (like rent and tax strikes), and by electing radical independents, such as Assemble candidates, who resist further cuts to public services. Community organising, such as door knocking and phone banking, should evolve from mere vote-gathering to an ongoing commitment to build participatory democratic cultures capable of facing future challenges.
Success hinges on a new communal narrative that counters the nihilistic allure of far-right ideologies. In a world where neoliberalism’s shallow individualism is failing, our resistance must demonstrate that we are not mere consumers. True community arises through confrontation, and such confrontation can only be meaningful if it is deeply rooted in the community itself. This means building solidarity across different social movements, and creating alternative institutions that can meet people’s needs without resorting to the far right’s divisive and repressive tactics.
In this struggle, it’s important to remember that the far right thrives on fear, isolation, and anger. By building a movement based on solidarity, compassion, and a shared vision of a just society, we can offer a powerful alternative to the politics of hate and division.
The fight against the far right is not just a political struggle—it’s a battle for the soul of society. By understanding the roots of this movement and organising effectively against it, we can create a world where justice, equality, and true democracy are more than just ideals, but realities for all.
Sign up for Assemble
Robin Boardman is a languages student and one of the cofounders of Extinction Rebellion. He helped to lead a successful campaign to get the University of Bristol to divest its portfolio of £2m from fossil fuels and has been an XR spokesperson on various outlets such as the BBC, LBC and Sky News. He blogs at: robinboardman.com
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