Henry Giroux: Can America’s Descent Into Fascism Be Stopped?

There are many courageous public intellectuals like Henry Giroux ― and other authors and activists, artists and poets, teachers and visionaries, and wisdom-keepers and truth-tellers ― who have long been exposing both the shadow side of America and its potential and strength and beauty. Held here is a glimpse into the radical changes that are possible and vital to our individual and collective healing, awakening, transformation, and well-being. Another world is possible. ― Molly

Donald Trump gestures at a campaign rally at an Oct. 9, rally in Reading, Pa. American citizens now face the consequences of a regime intent on serving the ultra-rich, dismantling the welfare state, deporting millions and attacking institutions, Henry A. Giroux writes. Alex Brandon The Associated Press file photo

Civic and educational degradation has fostered a culture that welcomes authoritarian ideals.

By Henry A. Giroux

Henry Giroux holds the McMaster University chaired professorship for scholarship in the public interest.

The election of Donald Trump signifies more than the rise of one individual; it embodies an escalation toward a more aggressive form of fascism.

His rise is rooted in capitalism’s unchecked influence on the anxieties, dread and anger of the American populace. This atmosphere of fear has laid fertile ground for Trump’s authoritarian appeal, echoing historic fascist regimes.

A broader failure among liberals and elements of the left has contributed to this, particularly by neglecting education’s role in fostering critical consciousness and civic literacy. As Trump capitalizes on this deficit, he dismantles the fabric of democracy by rewriting history, erasing critical thought and promoting an environment steeped in hatred and Hitlerian rhetoric.

A significant shift began with Ronald Reagan’s presidency, which transformed American society by dismantling the welfare state and empowering the billionaire elite. Rather than resist, liberals aligned with Wall Street power brokers like Goldman Sachs, embraced the values of the financial elite. This shift resulted in policies that crushed the working class, deepened racial and class divides, and fed into the dire and anxiety driven conditions that made Trump’s rise inevitable.

From Bill Clinton’s racially charged policies to Barack Obama’s centrist bail out of the bankers after the 2018 financial crisis, coupled with Joe Biden’s unspeakable support for the war in Gaza, a continuity of misplaced priorities has alienated the public and created fertile ground for authoritarianism.

Central to this crisis is the erosion of critical education.

Trump’s regime leveraged this void by stoking fear and hostility, drawing parallels to spectacles of authoritarian regimes in history, such as Nazi Germany. The civic and educational degradation has shifted the public’s view of history and democracy, fostering a culture that welcomes authoritarian ideals while readily forsaking any possibility of learning from history. Confronting this requires urgent attention to education as a tool for mass consciousness and collective resistance. Without it, the public remains vulnerable to propaganda that glorifies violence, nationalism, and conformity, eroding the pillars of democracy.

American citizens now face the consequences of a regime intent on serving the ultra-rich, dismantling the welfare state, deporting millions, and attacking institutions crucial to teaching students and others how to hold power accountable, embrace critical thinking, and uphold a politics infused with a sense of social responsibility. As intellectuals like Seyla Benhabib and Chris Hedges have noted, America’s current state reflects a profound decay, where Trump’s election signals the emergence of a nightmare from the nation’s unresolved issues.

This crisis demands a reimagining of culture, politics and education. To counteract these fascist tendencies, citizens must make education central to politics, raise mass consciousness and create the difficult tasks of mobilizing an energized collective movement. We need to counteract Trump’s machinery of violence with resistance, collective struggle and a renewed commitment to anti-capitalist and democratic values.

At this historical juncture, resisting Trump’s agenda is essential. Left unchecked, his influence threatens to replace democracy with a repressive police state, an unchecked nativism, and the potential for the utter destruction of democracy.

To prevent such an outcome, the U.S. must abandon its myths of exceptionalism and redefine democracy as a public good, committed to the principles of economic, political and social justice. Direct action and mass mobilization will be vital in preserving democracy and ensuring that it stands against the forces of fascism and inequality.

Trump’s election poses a stark warning for Canada, highlighting vulnerabilities in neo-liberal policies and cultural divides that could similarly fuel authoritarianism. Canada’s proximity to the U.S. means American political currents often influence its own policies and public attitudes. Canada must remain vigilant, actively fostering a democratic ethos and protecting its social institutions from the creeping authoritarianism symbolized by Trump’s rise.

Please go here for the original article: https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/can-america-s-descent-into-fascism-be-stopped/article_ade744f9-f9de-5963-857d-442f4c380ac1.html