Description
Road to Fascism
Book Summary
In "Road to Fascism," Simon Elmer analyzes how government responses to the coronavirus crisis have revealed an authoritarian drift in Western democracies. The author argues that the lockdown was not an isolated incident, but the first campaign of an undeclared war against civilian populations. Through a rigorous examination of control measures, new crises, and the erosion of rights, this book offers a profound reflection on the return of fascist forms of government in the 21st century.
What is it about?
The work begins with the lifting of the restrictions imposed during the pandemic to question the idea that the coronavirus crisis is over. Elmer argues that, instead of returning to normal, we have entered a phase of multiple crises: the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, and the return of the environmental crisis. The book examines how the willingness of governments to use state forces against their own populations, justified by the protection of the citizenry, marks a new level of authoritarianism. This trend, according to the author, is manifested in the governmental, legal, and cultural forms of neoliberal democracies, pointing to a return of fascism.
Main Topics
- State authoritarianism and social control in Western democracies.
- Analysis of government measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Erosion of civil rights and individual liberties under security justifications.
- Multiple crises: war, economy, and the environment as catalysts for political change.
- Neoliberalism and its transformation into authoritarian forms of government.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in social and political philosophy, political science, contemporary ideologies, and critical analysis of power. It is especially relevant for those seeking to understand the transformations of the state and democracy in the context of global crises, as well as for those concerned about the rise of authoritarian trends in the West.
What this book contributes
- A critical and documented analysis of control measures during the pandemic and their political significance.
- A perspective that connects seemingly disparate crises (health, war, economic, and environmental) into a single process of authoritarian drift.
- Conceptual tools to identify and understand contemporary forms of fascism and authoritarianism.
- A reflection on the future of liberal democracies and the risks they face.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Elmer, Simon
- Publisher: Mandala Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, FASCISM AND NAZISM
- Collection: POLITICS
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: February 2023
- Number of pages: 446
- Weight: 673 g
Editorial Review
"Road to Fascism" is a timely and provocative work that invites us to rethink the dynamics of power in contemporary democracies. Simon Elmer offers a rigorous analysis that connects recent events with broader historical processes, providing the reader with keys to interpret the current authoritarian drift. Its critical and well-founded approach makes it essential reading for those seeking to understand the political risks of our time.