How Fascism Works

The Politics of Us and Them

By: Jason Stanley

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

“No single book is as relevant to the present moment.”—Claudia Rankine, author of Citizen

“One of the defining books of the decade.”—Elizabeth Hinton, author of From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • Fascist politics are running rampant in America today—and spreading around the world. A Yale philosopher identifies the ten pillars of fascist politics, and charts their horrifying rise and deep history.

As the child of refugees of World War II Europe and a renowned philosopher and scholar of propaganda, Jason Stanley has a deep understanding of how democratic societies can be vulnerable to fascism: Nations don’t have to be fascist to suffer from fascist politics. In fact, fascism’s roots have been present in the United States for more than a century. Alarmed by the pervasive rise of fascist tactics both at home and around the globe, Stanley focuses here on the structures that unite them, laying out and analyzing the ten pillars of fascist politics—the language and beliefs that separate people into an “us” and a “them.” He knits together reflections on history, philosophy, sociology, and critical race theory with stories from contemporary Hungary, Poland, India, Myanmar, and the United States, among other nations. He makes clear the immense danger of underestimating the cumulative power of these tactics, which include exploiting a mythic version of a nation’s past; propaganda that twists the language of democratic ideals against themselves; anti-intellectualism directed against universities and experts; law and order politics predicated on the assumption that members of minority groups are criminals; and fierce attacks on labor groups and welfare. These mechanisms all build on one another, creating and reinforcing divisions and shaping a society vulnerable to the appeals of authoritarian leadership.

By uncovering disturbing patterns that are as prevalent today as ever, Stanley reveals that the stuff of politics—charged by rhetoric and myth—can quickly become policy and reality. Only by recognizing fascists politics, he argues, may we resist its most harmful effects and return to democratic ideals.

“With unsettling insight and disturbing clarity, How Fascism Works is an essential guidebook to our current national dilemma of democracy vs. authoritarianism.”—William Jelani Cobb, author of The Substance of Hope

©2018 Jason Stanley (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A vital read . . . The book provides a fascinating breakdown of the fascist ideology, nimbly interweaving examples from Germany, Italy and Hungary, from Rwanda and Myanmar to Serbia and, yes, the US. As he proceeds through his framework of the broadest features of his subject, Stanley includes smaller observations that may for some readers land bracingly close to home.”—The Guardian

“By placing Trump in transnational and transhistorical perspective, Stanley sees patterns that others miss. . . . Stanley’s comparative perspective is particularly effective in illustrating how fascists use fears of sexual violence. . . . By calling Trump a ‘fascist’—a word that strikes many Americans as alien and extreme—Stanley is trying to spark public alarm. He doesn’t want Americans to respond to Trump’s racist, authoritarian offensives by moving their moral goal posts. The greater danger, he suggests, isn’t hyperbole, it’s normalization.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“Jason Stanley’s staggering analysis has only grown in importance since the release of How Fascism Works in 2018. It is one of the defining books of the decade.”—Elizabeth Hinton, author of From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime

Critically important

This is a critically important book. The ongoing “Normalization” process is the tool of modern time Fascism.

Eye opening, thought provoking and overall great

Eye opening, thought provoking and overall great book. It helped me quickly start recognizing fascist comments on social media that were disguised as partial truths, an easily liked post by many but when looked through a greater lens you could see the fascist heart it was being said with. I'm thankful for this book being able to put words to what I've been seeing in American and Universal politics. I am a Conservative Christian American that believes we should have our eyes wide open to what is happening.

This should be required reading in schools

“How Fascism Works” is an excellent deconstruction of the means and methods fascist use to control people and gain power. Jason Stanley does a great job bringing to light the elusive obvious elements of fascism. Everyone should read this.

I’ll listen again with a notebook in hand

This is a concise book that outlines the history of fascism and how the very same ideology can be reused without any alteration to repeat history’s darkest periods. Unfortunately it’s so real we can see the same tactics succeeding everyday.

A BOOK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD READ

The details brought out in this book highlights most of the problems that mankind is facing as the result of people allowing themselves to be fooled into following the ideals of Fascist demagogues. If the democracies of the world (including the United States) do not get their acts together we are headed into a deep hole.

should be required reading for our times

With all the debates about what's taught in school at a minimum people should know what has destroyed free countries in the past and what threatens free countries today. But I guess that's the point. This is exactly what a country headed towards fascism doesn't want you to know. A fascinating on a very unique 4th of July, following a Supreme Court week from hell. (overturn of Roe v Wade, etc.)

Important info in 2022

Excellent information in our present history with to many countries moving toward authoritarian and illiberal governments.

Excellent work

Concise
Informative
Well written
Jason Stanley explains the nuances of fascism
Andrews as narrator 10/10

Quick and Informative

Compact and succinct! True to the title - Author and narrator kept it interesting! I would recommend

How easy it is to slip into an us verses them, makers verses takers mentality!

Incredible job. Best book of its kind I have heard or read.
It speaks to us today as America stands on the precipice of Facism. A must hear or read by all Americans!!!