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obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition
4.0
It's a weird time to read this book, with the brexit happening thanks to a load of British Anti-EU xenophobes & the rise of the far right throughout all of Europe.
This is mostly a book about the British National Party, how it started, who it's best-known member Nick Griffin is and about the rise and subsequent fall of the party.
There is not as much background and political context as I would have wished for, not enough interpretation for my taste. I'd say if you've never thought or read much about politics, racist rhetorics or the British party system you might get lost here and there. But if not, this is a pretty easy and straight forward read. Short, too.
While it was interesting to learn about the BNP, the most interesting aspects for me where when Trilling writes about other British parties reactions to the BNP. How the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems all managed to help create a climate of fear and racism because they tried to win back voters from the BNP. The same thing we have seen now happening with Cameron and UKIP.
This book is from 2012 and it only mentions UKIP a few times. I'd be curious to read an account of how and why this party is perceived even more favorably by the general public and why they're better at managing to walk the line between being racist as hell and still a "people's party" than the BNP.
The most frustrating thing about reading this book was seeing how racist rhetorics and the rise of facist parties work in very similar ways through out Europe (and the world in general, too). It makes one feel extremely helpless. Especially in the political climate we are now in. The same anti-immigrant headlines you got back then in the Daily Mail against Eastern European migrants, you can find now against Syrians in papers all throughout this continent.
This is not the definite book on the rise of the far right in the UK. It is mostly on the BNP. And to be quite honest, I'm not sure if the party itself warrants a longer or more insightful look than this one offers.
This is mostly a book about the British National Party, how it started, who it's best-known member Nick Griffin is and about the rise and subsequent fall of the party.
There is not as much background and political context as I would have wished for, not enough interpretation for my taste. I'd say if you've never thought or read much about politics, racist rhetorics or the British party system you might get lost here and there. But if not, this is a pretty easy and straight forward read. Short, too.
While it was interesting to learn about the BNP, the most interesting aspects for me where when Trilling writes about other British parties reactions to the BNP. How the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems all managed to help create a climate of fear and racism because they tried to win back voters from the BNP. The same thing we have seen now happening with Cameron and UKIP.
This book is from 2012 and it only mentions UKIP a few times. I'd be curious to read an account of how and why this party is perceived even more favorably by the general public and why they're better at managing to walk the line between being racist as hell and still a "people's party" than the BNP.
The most frustrating thing about reading this book was seeing how racist rhetorics and the rise of facist parties work in very similar ways through out Europe (and the world in general, too). It makes one feel extremely helpless. Especially in the political climate we are now in. The same anti-immigrant headlines you got back then in the Daily Mail against Eastern European migrants, you can find now against Syrians in papers all throughout this continent.
This is not the definite book on the rise of the far right in the UK. It is mostly on the BNP. And to be quite honest, I'm not sure if the party itself warrants a longer or more insightful look than this one offers.
barry_x's review against another edition
4.0
A very readable and concise history of the BNP from it's inception and roots, it's rise in political relevance and eventual downfall. The final few chapters focus on the rise of the EDL.
Well I suppose writing this review in March of 2015 both the BNP and EDL are largely irrelevant - largely due to their infighting and incompetence (always quite laughable how the 'master race' of weirdo's and deviants struggle to make a cup of tea without falling out - how do they think they'll get on if they ever do get in power?). However I think it is quite important to recognise that the far right, like mould on a wall can spread quite quickly if left unchecked and unchallenged.
I knew quite a lot of the history and the potential reasons for the relative electoral success of the BNP. What I did appreciate in this book was the highlighting of the various strains of fascism that former Fuhrer Griffin adopted in his political development. What is clear is that the organisation always was a fascist organisation and deeply and unequivocally racist. What is of interest is actually how often the BNP tried to distance themselves from Nazi ideology and on occasion overt racism. The way they balanced their propaganda with those of black separatists and National independence movements in other countries is quite interesting. I did find the background on Griffin quite interesting and although most observers will be aware of this but the Far Right isn't made up solely 'disaffected White working class' people. Griffin was educated at Cambridge and was from a wealthy background. The founders of the EDL were City bankers. What I think this book does quite well is that it quite accurately describes how working class people identify with the Far Right but it also calls the middle class to task. Fascism has always had a strong appeal to the middle classes and power brokers. In the media in the UK it is almost exclusively presented as a working class issue. The BNP success in Lancashire wasn't in working class areas - it was in relatively well off middle class areas.
The analysis of why the BNP picked up votes is largely straightforward and won't be a surprise to most observers. A lack of employment and affordable housing has contributed to a strain on resources combined with a 'flexible' economy that has welcomed immigration in recent years. The rich and wealthy in this country have openly encouraged immigration (both EU and historically from our 'Empire') - not to bring in valued skills but to provide a cheap labour force. They have profited from this and devalued the way of life and working conditions for many. Instead of showing some backbone and recognising the impact of this policy they have all 'got tough on immigration' - blaming the immigrant victims who have awful access to services for taking 'our' jobs. The people in power are those who have created the issue they decry. The politicians disgust me and make me sick! In the meantime any leaning to the right from working class people and the 'racist' tag comes out. Once again, the rich blaming the victims...
The 'Right to Buy' schemes and the failure to build enough social housing is what causes tensions and that isn't the fault of anyone who just wants a home... (It's interesting that right now it's not 'asylum seekers' but the disabled who are to blame for the housing crisis with the 'bedroom tax'.) The book makes a succinct but quite accurate point - if there is not enough social housing why aren't we building more???
Another relevant point the book makes is that it recognises the causes of electoral support for the Far Right but it also doesn't shy from acknowledging that many people are racist. I find some commentary on the Left sometimes presents the working class in particular as a vanguard of anti-fascism who ONLY turn to fascist parties because of the failure of mainstream parties. It's quite accurate that the Far Right fill in vacuums left by the mainstream and it is certainly accurate that the Labour party completely betrayed and abandoned the working class a long time ago. However, when one votes for the BNP or equivalent it is from a racist perspective. That person is racist whether they admit it or not, 'I'm not racist but (insert group) get all the jobs' is still a racist attitude. I appreciate Trilling challenging both the positions of 'stupid working class racists' and 'it's all the Tories fault these people vote BNP'.
(As an aside, as we head for a General Election this year it will be interesting to see how the UKIP vote does. I can't help but think that the electoral beating the BNP has taken may be in part to UKIP getting the racist vote. UKIP stole the language, policies and even the same promotional campaign (just look at BNP and UKIP posters over the last five years). BNP's electoral drubbing isn't because people are less racist, it's because UKIP are a more credible option for racists. Funny how UKIP say they are not a racist party but all the racists vote for them...)
So the history is pretty good and well researched. The policy and political shifts and strategies of the BNP are well researched (and it is notable that they have succeeded where they have got out into communities - is it that hard a lesson for politicians to get? Help the people and they will vote for you!). The infighting and power struggles are well documented - quite notable that Griffin is now out of the door also - maybe if Trilling ever does another edition of this they'll be a happier ending.
The election history is well researched and the analysis is intelligent and reasoned and seems honest. My only small gripe would be the inference that the Anti Nazi League was a street level group responsible for driving fascism off the streets. To be honest ANL were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard and the diversion of tactics from street level to local politics was largely down to militant anti-fascism and not waving lollipops four miles away... I felt the ANL strategy of putting on an anti racist concert where everyone who goes feels great about not being racist is a massive waste of time and resources, although everyone can pat their hands on their backs...
Well I suppose writing this review in March of 2015 both the BNP and EDL are largely irrelevant - largely due to their infighting and incompetence (always quite laughable how the 'master race' of weirdo's and deviants struggle to make a cup of tea without falling out - how do they think they'll get on if they ever do get in power?). However I think it is quite important to recognise that the far right, like mould on a wall can spread quite quickly if left unchecked and unchallenged.
I knew quite a lot of the history and the potential reasons for the relative electoral success of the BNP. What I did appreciate in this book was the highlighting of the various strains of fascism that former Fuhrer Griffin adopted in his political development. What is clear is that the organisation always was a fascist organisation and deeply and unequivocally racist. What is of interest is actually how often the BNP tried to distance themselves from Nazi ideology and on occasion overt racism. The way they balanced their propaganda with those of black separatists and National independence movements in other countries is quite interesting. I did find the background on Griffin quite interesting and although most observers will be aware of this but the Far Right isn't made up solely 'disaffected White working class' people. Griffin was educated at Cambridge and was from a wealthy background. The founders of the EDL were City bankers. What I think this book does quite well is that it quite accurately describes how working class people identify with the Far Right but it also calls the middle class to task. Fascism has always had a strong appeal to the middle classes and power brokers. In the media in the UK it is almost exclusively presented as a working class issue. The BNP success in Lancashire wasn't in working class areas - it was in relatively well off middle class areas.
The analysis of why the BNP picked up votes is largely straightforward and won't be a surprise to most observers. A lack of employment and affordable housing has contributed to a strain on resources combined with a 'flexible' economy that has welcomed immigration in recent years. The rich and wealthy in this country have openly encouraged immigration (both EU and historically from our 'Empire') - not to bring in valued skills but to provide a cheap labour force. They have profited from this and devalued the way of life and working conditions for many. Instead of showing some backbone and recognising the impact of this policy they have all 'got tough on immigration' - blaming the immigrant victims who have awful access to services for taking 'our' jobs. The people in power are those who have created the issue they decry. The politicians disgust me and make me sick! In the meantime any leaning to the right from working class people and the 'racist' tag comes out. Once again, the rich blaming the victims...
The 'Right to Buy' schemes and the failure to build enough social housing is what causes tensions and that isn't the fault of anyone who just wants a home... (It's interesting that right now it's not 'asylum seekers' but the disabled who are to blame for the housing crisis with the 'bedroom tax'.) The book makes a succinct but quite accurate point - if there is not enough social housing why aren't we building more???
Another relevant point the book makes is that it recognises the causes of electoral support for the Far Right but it also doesn't shy from acknowledging that many people are racist. I find some commentary on the Left sometimes presents the working class in particular as a vanguard of anti-fascism who ONLY turn to fascist parties because of the failure of mainstream parties. It's quite accurate that the Far Right fill in vacuums left by the mainstream and it is certainly accurate that the Labour party completely betrayed and abandoned the working class a long time ago. However, when one votes for the BNP or equivalent it is from a racist perspective. That person is racist whether they admit it or not, 'I'm not racist but (insert group) get all the jobs' is still a racist attitude. I appreciate Trilling challenging both the positions of 'stupid working class racists' and 'it's all the Tories fault these people vote BNP'.
(As an aside, as we head for a General Election this year it will be interesting to see how the UKIP vote does. I can't help but think that the electoral beating the BNP has taken may be in part to UKIP getting the racist vote. UKIP stole the language, policies and even the same promotional campaign (just look at BNP and UKIP posters over the last five years). BNP's electoral drubbing isn't because people are less racist, it's because UKIP are a more credible option for racists. Funny how UKIP say they are not a racist party but all the racists vote for them...)
So the history is pretty good and well researched. The policy and political shifts and strategies of the BNP are well researched (and it is notable that they have succeeded where they have got out into communities - is it that hard a lesson for politicians to get? Help the people and they will vote for you!). The infighting and power struggles are well documented - quite notable that Griffin is now out of the door also - maybe if Trilling ever does another edition of this they'll be a happier ending.
The election history is well researched and the analysis is intelligent and reasoned and seems honest. My only small gripe would be the inference that the Anti Nazi League was a street level group responsible for driving fascism off the streets. To be honest ANL were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard and the diversion of tactics from street level to local politics was largely down to militant anti-fascism and not waving lollipops four miles away... I felt the ANL strategy of putting on an anti racist concert where everyone who goes feels great about not being racist is a massive waste of time and resources, although everyone can pat their hands on their backs...
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