Combating the Far-Right: Lessons from 20th Century Revolutionary History
Lessons for Today
The rise of the far-right and fascism in the 20th century posed a significant challenge to revolutionary movements. Drawing on these historical experiences, particularly from the interwar period, revolutionary Marxists developed analyses and tactics aimed at combating these forces. These historical struggles offer insights for confronting contemporary authoritarian and far-right movements.
Understanding the Nature of Fascism and the Authoritarian Right
From a revolutionary Marxist perspective, fascism is understood not as a fixed state but as a fluid political process that develops through interaction with other forces in the context of capitalist crisis and social breakdown. It is described as the hyper-charging of a reactionary cocktail of ideas—including nationalism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, authoritarianism, and militarism—to create an active political force opposed to progressive movements and radical change. The essence of modern fascism is seen as the same as its interwar predecessor: a counter-revolutionary mass movement to defend the system against the threat of revolution from below by the working class, the oppressed, and the poor. An organized fascist movement can be an imperative necessity for the ruling class in a capitalist state threatened with social revolution.
There is discussion in the sources regarding the application of the label "fascist" to contemporary movements and leaders. Some argue that debating whether a specific organization is "technically fascist" is futile and that what matters is the "direction of travel" of the Right as a whole. The concept of an "Authoritarian Right" is used to place parties like the British Tory Party and US Republican Party within a political framework shaped by the process of creeping fascism. This Authoritarian Right is characterized by "authoritarian protectionism," where a self-appointed strongman promises to "protect" the ethno-national community against perceived threats. This trend is seen as linked to the crisis of world capitalism and a shift from free-market neoliberalism to state-dependent neoliberalism in an age of austerity. While some argue that current authoritarians are not "creeping to open fascism," others are concerned that the whole of the Right is moving to the right, normalizing fascist ideology and greenlighting fascist activity. It is argued that focusing solely on applying the label can be less effective than learning lessons from historical antifascist movements.
Historical Strategy: The United Front
A central tactic developed in the 20th century to combat fascism was the united front. This involved building broad alliances with other left parties and movements. The aim was to unify working-class forces to resist the rise of fascism. A congress of labor could consider a united anti-fascist struggle of the entire labor movement.
Critique of Popular Frontism
Crucially, revolutionary Marxists historically distinguished the united front from the popular front. The popular front, as advocated by some (and criticized in the sources), involves alliances with liberal or bourgeois political forces and reliance on the capitalist state to defeat fascism. According to the sources, this approach is dangerous and ineffective. It is argued that an alliance with the Liberal Centre and the bourgeois state disarms the revolutionary movement. Historically, fascism was put in power by the ruling class and the liberal-parliamentary state as allies against a revolutionary movement. The record shows that where there was effective resistance, it came not from popular fronts but from united fronts of working-class forces, such as the Battle of Cable Street. The argument is that revolutionary strategy needs to build a real anti-fascist movement from below, not hold illusions in liberal politicians and the police to save them. Teaming up with bourgeois politicians to fight fascism is deemed ludicrous, especially when masses of people are turning away from traditional parties. The capitalist state is viewed as increasingly militarized and repressive, and it is considered a foolish illusion to believe it will crush fascists in defense of "democracy"; instead, it may maintain and nurture fascist gangs.
Key Tactical Elements for Today
Drawing on the historical experience and analysis, several key tactical elements are proposed for confronting the far-right today:
Defend Democratic Rights: The left must defend democratic rights such as the right to demonstrate and strike, voting rights, and freedom of expression. These rights, including the right of non-propertied citizens to vote, unions, equal pay for equal work, and equality under the law, were won by the struggles of working people. They must be defended vigorously without attaching illusions that bourgeois parties or "progressive" politicians can be counted on to protect them. In the struggle involving democratic rights threatened by fascists, the working class cannot stand aside as this would lead to its atomization. The correct course involves defending democratic forms against the fascist threat while attacking liberals for capitulating and paving the way for fascists.
Counter-Mobilization and Self-Defense: The strategy should include working-class counter-mobilizations against the fascists. A program of united front activity should include the demand for integrated community/labor movement protection by defense squads. A central principle of anti-fascist work is "no platform," meaning denying fascists opportunities to spread their message through their newspapers, marches, and meetings where the balance of forces is favorable to anti-fascists. No reliance should be placed on state forces or bans to defeat fascism or defend oppressed communities.
Addressing the Root Causes: The fight against fascism requires understanding its deep roots, including the crisis of neoliberal democracies and increased inequalities. Anti-fascist campaigns must address the material causes that give rise to fascist movements. This means linking campaigns against poor housing and unemployment to a transitional program. The ultimate truth is that nothing will "stop fascism" short of the overthrow of capitalism. Revolutionary Marxists should link support for national liberation demands (in oppressed nations) and democratic demands in general with an uncompromising ideological and political critique of nationalist ideology and a struggle against the capitalist system that breeds fascism. Revolutionary approaches today must uphold transitional and ecosocialist demands capable of leading to a strategic defeat of capitalism.
Independent Working-Class Organization: It is essential to promote an autonomous organization for the worker and peasant masses, independent of any bourgeois and petty-bourgeois nationalist leadership. The struggle against fascism is an affair of the working class, and revolutionary politics requires building revolutionary leadership within the working class. A labor party would represent a gigantic step forward in the struggle against fascism, symbolizing the political independence of the workers, but it is not a panacea for victory. The working class must act as an independent political force.
Combatting Reactionary Ideology: The Authoritarian Right today engages in a culture-war offensive against the oppressed, heavily utilizing social media. This taps into deep-seated reactionary ideas. While some argue for focusing only on economic issues, the sources suggest that addressing difficult "secondary" issues like solidarity with the oppressed and combating reactionary ideologies is crucial. This includes exposing the far-right's often contradictory stance, which combines a fear of the "social" or "collective" with experimentation in authoritarian neoliberalism.
Contemporary Relevance: Facing the Far-Right Today
The historical lessons are considered vital because, despite the differences in form compared to the interwar period, a similar mechanism might be at work: a mass electoral bloc moving to the right, leaders ramping up nationalism and racism, trashing democratic norms, inciting violence, infection of sections of the state apparatus, and an activist minority willing to engage in physical struggle. The sources warn against complacency. Understanding the nature of the threat and formulating a robust counter-politics is essential. The strategy must be both tactical (short-term alliances) and strategic (long-term defeat of capitalism). The experience of the past, particularly the formation of the left through anti-fascist struggle, highlights the potential for new forces to emerge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, confronting the far-right today draws heavily on the experiences and strategies of 20th-century revolutionary movements. Key lessons include: understanding fascism as a dynamic, counter-revolutionary response to capitalist crisis; the necessity of a united front of working-class forces while firmly rejecting alliances with bourgeois politicians and the capitalist state (popular frontism); the vital need to defend democratic rights and engage in counter-mobilization and self-defense; the strategic imperative of linking the fight against the far-right to addressing the root causes in capitalism and struggling for a radically different society; and the indispensable role of independent working-class organization and ideological clarity in combating reactionary ideas. The urgency of applying these lessons is paramount to combat the growing threat effectively.