TORY GOVERNMENTS AND 'FASCISM AS A PROCESS'

Leaders like Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, and ministers such as Sue Breverman and Kemi Badenoch, have often made speeches and proposed policies that portray immigrants as a national security threat. This has accelerated the growth of racism, Islamophobia, and cultural polarization. Attention has been diverted from the real issues facing the working class, workers, and retirees, creating an environment conducive to the development and strengthening of various fascist circles and groups, thus accelerating "fascism as a process."

Nigel Farage, who played a decisive role during the Brexit process, garnered 4 million votes with his newly founded Reform UK party in the last elections, surpassing many Tory candidates and entering parliament. This development was both a product and an accelerator of "fascism as a process." Indeed, on July 9, over 20,000 people attended a rally called by Tommy Robinson, one of the leaders of the fascist movement. Last week, fascist thugs took to the streets following social media messages falsely portraying a Christian attacker from Cardiff, who stabbed three small children in Southport, as a Muslim asylum seeker. The spread of mass street actions in cities like Belfast, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Hull indicates that the fascist movement is trying to transition from the ideology and "groups" phase to the "movement" and "party" phase. The potential for scattered fascist groups to transform into a more organized "movement" through social media poses a significant threat.

RESISTANCE DYNAMICS

To resist the transition of the fascist movement into a mass party, a multifaceted approach is needed, primarily creating a strong, active movement against Islamophobia and racism. It is promising that last week, anti-fascist forces began taking to the streets against the fascists. The Labour government's establishment of a "special intervention" unit to counter fascist street actions is also a positive development. However, there is a high possibility that this unit might intervene in the resistance actions of anti-fascist forces as well.

Historically, social democratic governments have always believed that they can stop "fascism as a process" with state security forces. However, considering the institutional racism and sexism within police departments, and the ease with which the fascist movement can influence and infiltrate the police, this belief is not only wrong but also harmful. As the social democratic government tries to rely on security forces, it may end up suppressing the actions of the anti-fascist movement under the illusion of "neutrality," while the fascist movement begins to infiltrate the state and seeks to establish connections with big capital. If the social democratic or liberal party government fails and loses the elections, the fascist movement gains momentum.

To effectively resist "fascism as a process," especially during the stages of party formation and mass mobilization, it is essential to build grassroots movements that address the roots of racism and economic issues. These movements should focus on promoting and strengthening social justice, economic equality, and solidarity among various communities. Unions, community organizations, and progressive political groups need to be more proactive in their resistance efforts, and socialists must be more inclusive and coordinate their actions.

As the Labour Party navigates a complex political landscape where a fascist movement led by figures like Farage is gaining more attention, it must address the economic and cultural concerns of the working classes, be cautious against the normalization of fascist rhetoric, and prioritize social policies that promote inter-community harmony and inclusivity. However, it appears that the Labour government is unable to break away from the neoliberal policies that have midwifed the rebirth of the fascist movement in the 21st century.