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A review by acsaper
Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
3.0
Another jayper saper book talk grab! Yes, a timely tale to try and explain what exactly this term "antifa," which we see flashing through the headlines, actually means. Well, anti-fascism, of course. But, what does that mean? Well, to start, one must define fascism, and the definition Bray adopts is:
"...a form of political behavior marked by obsessive pre-occupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
So what is antifa? The fight against that!
The work appears to be the culmination of Bray's academic studies of anti-fascist movements throughout history. It certainly reads academically, and is not the easiest pick-up reader.
The book moves through historical anti-fascist movements, and makes it clear that a book, if not many, could be written on WWII antifascism alone - but that is not Bray's goal. Rather, he moves through general historical antifa movements, mostly in Europe. He then moves to talking about how these movements have a place in contemporary politics. And, as an obvious proponent of antifascism (which he addresses as unusual for an academic to be invested in the morality of their research subject) he applies defenses of antifa, or perhaps responses, to common criticisms.
I got bogged down in reading this and then knocked out the rest on a much delayed flight back from winter break. Is it worth the read? Definitely, if you're trying to gain a greater historical perspective on anti-fascist movements. And, the later chapters are probably very helpful for putting the rise of American fascism into perspective. And, for responses to those who attack antifa. Did it all stick with me? Not even close. But, thanks for the book!
"...a form of political behavior marked by obsessive pre-occupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
So what is antifa? The fight against that!
The work appears to be the culmination of Bray's academic studies of anti-fascist movements throughout history. It certainly reads academically, and is not the easiest pick-up reader.
The book moves through historical anti-fascist movements, and makes it clear that a book, if not many, could be written on WWII antifascism alone - but that is not Bray's goal. Rather, he moves through general historical antifa movements, mostly in Europe. He then moves to talking about how these movements have a place in contemporary politics. And, as an obvious proponent of antifascism (which he addresses as unusual for an academic to be invested in the morality of their research subject) he applies defenses of antifa, or perhaps responses, to common criticisms.
I got bogged down in reading this and then knocked out the rest on a much delayed flight back from winter break. Is it worth the read? Definitely, if you're trying to gain a greater historical perspective on anti-fascist movements. And, the later chapters are probably very helpful for putting the rise of American fascism into perspective. And, for responses to those who attack antifa. Did it all stick with me? Not even close. But, thanks for the book!