Stanley’s work serves as both a warning and a call to action—a reminder that the past’s darkest chapters are never as distant as they seem.
New York, N.Y. – In an era marked by deepening political polarization, Yale professor Jason Stanley is sounding the alarm on the resurgence of fascist ideology—not as a relic of the past, but as a growing threat to modern democracies. His research reveals a disturbing pattern: fascism, he argues, is not merely a political system but a cult of the leader, one that promises national restoration by demonizing perceived enemies.
The Cult of the Leader
At the heart of fascism lies an all-powerful leader who claims to embody the will of the people. “Fascist leaders don’t just govern; they offer redemption,” Stanley explains.
“They tell their followers, ‘I alone can fix the humiliation inflicted by outsiders.’”
This narrative thrives on a sense of lost greatness, blaming immigrants, liberals, and minorities for societal decay.
The leader’s charisma becomes a unifying force, replacing institutions with loyalty to a single figure.
The Urban/Rural Divide
Fascist movements, Stanley notes, often exploit geographic and cultural schisms.
Cities are painted as corrupt hubs of “elites, immigrants, and degeneracy,” while rural areas are mythologized as the “true heartland.”
This divide fosters resentment, casting urban centers as enemies of tradition.
“It’s not that rural life is inherently fascist,” Stanley clarifies, “but when leaders weaponize this divide, it becomes dangerous.”
The Scapegoating Playbook
The targets of fascist rhetoric—women, LGBTQ+ communities, the media—are framed as threats to national identity. Stanley points to historical parallels: “The same tactics were used in the 1930s. Today, it’s ‘wokeism’ or ‘globalists’; back then, it was ‘Bolsheviks’ or ‘cosmopolitans.’” By dehumanizing opponents, fascist leaders justify repression, portraying dissent as treason.
Defending Democracy
Stanley remains cautiously optimistic, urging vigilance. “Democracies don’t collapse overnight,” he says. “They erode when people stop trusting each other.” His advice? Strengthen local journalism, protect voting rights, and reject absolutist narratives. “The antidote to fascism is solidarity—recognizing that no group is ‘less than.’”
About Jason Stanley: Jason Stanley is the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University. Before coming to Yale in 2013, he was Distinguished Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Rutgers University. Stanley is the author of Know How; Languages in Context; Knowledge and Practical Interests, which won the American Philosophical Association book prize; and How Propaganda Works, which won the PROSE Award for Philosophy from the Association of American Publishers. He writes about authoritarianism, propaganda, free speech, mass incarceration, and other topics for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Review, The Guardian, Project Syndicate and The Chronicle of Higher Education, among other publications.
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#DemocracyInPeril #UrbanRuralDivide #Propaganda #Yale
Tags: Jason Stanley, authoritarianism, propaganda, urban/rural divide,
fascism, political philosophy, Yale University, democracy, nationalism
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