Rising Fascism in America
It Can Happen Here
Preview
Book Description
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, Trump’s political ascendance, and the prominence of extremist activists, including in Congress. Fascism has long bubbled under the surface until the coup attempt of January 6th, 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 student and general readers.
Table of Contents
Introduction. A Fascist Movement in America?, Chapter 1. The Enablers – "Liberal" Democratic Institutions and Neofascistic Politics, Chapter 2. The Trojan Horse – "Conservative" Media and the Mainstreaming of Neofascistic Politics, Chapter 3. The Bridge – How Donald Trump Normalized Neofascistic Politics, Chapter 4. The Base – Trumpism as a Neofascistic Political Movement, Chapter 5. The Resistance – Antifascism in U.S. Social Movements
Author(s)
Biography
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.
Reviews
"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, Professor Emeritus, 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 America's 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, DiMaggio's 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 Hawai'i-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 DiMaggio's 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)