Only a few years ago, to suggest that the United States might go fascist was considered an absurdity, a provocation. Now, seemingly overnight, fascism has reared its head and come to play a large and growing role in American political life. Whether it will become the dominant force is the great issue of our times. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful book by Anthony DiMaggio to explain these frightening developments and help set us on a democratic course.
Robert W. McChesney, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Communication, University of Illinois
Bringing to bear a penetrating transdisciplinary analysis building on American politics, media studies, and sociology, this book offers the best available account of Americas disturbing slide into neofascism epitomized by the Trump administration. This is one of the very few truly outstanding studies of contemporary American politics that manages to incorporate both quantitative and qualitative insights into an accessible narrative. Appealing to a broad readership, DiMaggios intellectual tour de force is a must-read that shows why and how fascist dynamics can overwhelm liberal democracies even the land of the free.
Manfred B. Steger, Professor of Sociology, University of Hawaii-Manoa and Global Professorial Fellow, Western Sydney University
With Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here, Anthony DiMaggio has created a tornado siren of profound insight, analytical dexterity, and stylistic eloquence. The storm clouds of fascism, white supremacy, and mass violence are rotating overhead, and DiMaggios superb, brilliant, and disturbing study offers not only a cogent forecast, but also the means for escape. Assembling an impressive variety of data, media criticism, political theory, and sociological argumentation to bolster his urgent thesis, DiMaggio has written an indispensable analysis. Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here should be read by everyone concerned with the future of multiracial democracy and social justice in the United States.
David Masciotra, author of I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters (I.B. Tauris, 2020)
Rising Fascism in America
Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here explores how rising fascism has infiltrated U.S. politics and how the media and academia failed to spot its earlier rise. Anthony R. DiMaggio spotlights the development of rightwing polarization of the media, Trumps political ascendance, and the prominence of extremist activists, including in Congress. Fascism has long bubbled under the surface until the coup attempt of January 6, 2021. This book offers tactics to combat fascism, exploring social movements such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter in mobilizing the public. When so little scholarship engages the question of fascism, Anthony R. DiMaggio combines the rigor of academic analysis with an accessible style that appeals to students and general readers.
Anthony R. DiMaggio is Associate Professor of Political Science at Lehigh University. His research emphasizes the interactions between politics, social movements, the news media, and the American right. He is the author of nine books, including Political Power in America (2019), Rebellion in America (Routledge 2020), and Unequal America (Routledge 2021). He has been an active participant in social movement politics for the last two decades, and is an avid social commentator.
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Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here
Anthony R. DiMaggio
Rising Fascism in America
It Can Happen Here
Anthony R. DiMaggio
Cover image: Shutterstock
First published 2022
by Routledge
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2022 Taylor & Francis
The right of Anthony R. DiMaggio to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Dimaggio, Anthony R., 1980- author.
Title: Rising fascism in America: it can happen here/Anthony R. DiMaggio.
Description: New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021036982 | ISBN 9781032056210 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032056203 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003198390 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Trump, Donald, 1946Influence. | FascismUnited StatesHistory21st century. | Right-wing extremistsUnited States. | Anti-fascist movementsUnited States. | NeoliberalismUnited States. | United StatesPolitics and government2017-2021. | United States Politics and government2021- Classification: LCC E912 .D557 2022 | DDC 973.933092dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021036982
ISBN: 9781032056210 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032056203 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003198390 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003198390
Typeset in Garamond
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Dedicated to my family, Mary, Frankie, and Tommy, and to hope for a better future.
Contents
Acknowledgments
There are numerous people I want to thank for their help along the way in completing my research, and this book, Rising Fascism in America. Without their help, this would not have been possible. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife Mary and my sons Frankie and Tommy for their infinite patience in dealing with me and the countless hours that went into this project. Your support means everything to me, and I cant thank you enough for always being there, on the long days, nights, and weekends that this required. Id also like to thank Jeff St. Clair and Josh Frank at Counterpunch for providing me a venue to work through my thoughts, research, and writing on fascism in America over the last few years. That venue was so vital to working through this book in real time, throughout the rise of the Trump administration and its assault on the American republic. Id also like to thank Paul Street, Terry Thomas, and David Masciotra for being sounding boards and peers that I was able to shoot ideas off of, and for helping me keep my sanity regarding the fascist crisis during these dark years.
