In this public meeting, author Richard Seymour will speak about his book Disaster Nationalism: The Downfall of Liberal Civilization, and we will have an open discussion about how this can help the left in Britain orient itself through its present strategic dilemmas.
Richard Seymour’s most recent book Disaster Nationalism: The Downfall of Liberal Civilization tackles the rise of the new far right and how it has left the world grappling with a profound misunderstanding. While the spotlight often shines on the actions of charismatic leaders such as Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, the true peril lies elsewhere. Defeating these people will not stem the tide driving them forward. They are merely the embodiment of profound forces that are rarely understood.
Propelled through the vast networks of social media and fuelled by far-right influencers, enthralled by images of disaster and fantasies of doom, they have emerged from a reservoir of societal despair, fear, and isolation. Within this seething cauldron, we witness not only the surge of far-right political movements but also the sparks of individual and collective violence against perceived enemies, from ‘lone wolf’ killers to terrifying pogroms. Should a new fascism emerge, it will coalesce from these very elements. This is disaster nationalism.
Order a copy here:
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3147-disaster-nationalism
This event is organised by North London rs21. Find out more: https://revsoc21.uk/