[lbo-talk] INSTANT POPULISM: A short history of populism old and new

c b cb31450 at gmail.com
Thu Dec 2 08:44:19 PST 2010


This is exactly the type of narrow analytical view that I am trying to contest. It's like saying anyone who is not European and living between WWI and WWII cannot be a fascist.

Well, they cannot be a Fascist of Nazi, but they sure can be a neofascist or neonazi.

^^^^ CB: Some do, but I'm always on the side you support above in this argument, i.e. the term fascist shouldn't be confined to the period between WWI and WWII in Europe.  I just called the US Jim Crow system fascist before Italy.  Jim Crow originated before WWI.

However, I don't think there is a good analogy between defining populist movements as primarily peasant based to distinguish them from socialist movements as primarily proletarian/wagelabor based; and the definition of "fascist" ??

^^^

And, looking back through history, the idea of populism existed before the agrarian populists of the late 19th century. ^^^^ CB: E.g. , Engels wrote a book on peasant revolts in Germany going way back. In other words, the proportion of working people who were peasants increases as you go back in time, so the peasant base was there for earlier "populists" movements.

^^^^

Jacksonian populism, for example. Jackson is praised by some on the left who conveniently ignore his genocide of native populations.

-chip

^^^^^^^ CB:  I've been an activist in support of Indigenous People's rights for a while. When Jackson comes up I always mention that he was an Indian killer,  caused the Veil of Tears trek.

One dollar bill -Washington -owned slaves Five dollar bill - Lincoln - didn't own slaves Ten dollar bill - Hamilton - on the money Twenty dollar bill - Jackson - Indian killer



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