“I’ve never read a book that is as timely, urgent and essential as this one. A battle plan for keeping this nation from falling into fascism.” —Khalil Gibran Muhammad, author of The Condemnation of Blackness From the bestselling author of How Fascism Works , a searing confrontation with the far right’s efforts to rewrite history and undo a century of progress on race, gender, sexuality, and class. The human race finds itself again under threat of a rising global fascist movement.

In the United States, democracy is under attack by an authoritarian movement that has found fertile ground among the country’s conservative politicians and voters, but similar movements have found homes in the hearts and minds of people all across the globe. To understand the shape, form, and stakes of this assault, we must go back to extract lessons from our past. Democracy requires a common understanding of reality, a shared view of what has happened, that informs ordinary citizens’ decisions about what should happen, now and in the future.

Authoritarians target this shared understanding, seeking to separate us from our own history to destroy our self-understanding and leave us unmoored, resentful, and confused. By setting us against each other, authoritarians represent themselves as the sole solution. In authoritarian countries, critical examination of those nations’ history and traditions is discouraged if not an outright danger to those who do it.

And it is no accident that local and global institutions of education have become a battleground, the authoritarian right’s tip of the spear , where learning and efforts to upend a hierarchal status quo can be put to end by coercion and threats of violence. Democracies entrust schools and universities to preserve a common memory of positive change, generated by protests, social movements, and rebellions. The authoritarian right must erase this history, and, along with it, the very practice of critical inquiry that has so often been the engine of future progress.

In Erasing History , Yale professor of philosophy Jason Stanley exposes the true danger of the authoritarian right’s attacks on education, identifies their key tactics and funders, and traces their intellectual roots. He illustrates how fears of a fascist future have metastasized, from hypothetical threat to present reality. And he shows that hearts and minds are won in our schools and universities—places, he explains, that democratic societies across the world are now ill-prepared to defend against the fascist assault currently underway.

Deeply informed and urgently needed, Erasing History is a global call to action for those who wish to preserve democracy—in America and abroad—before it is too late.

History is not just a record of the past; it shapes how societies perceive themselves and envision the future. In a world where narratives are weaponized and facts become malleable, understanding the deliberate reshaping of history is crucial. 'Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future' delves into the chilling strategies employed by authoritarian regimes to distort reality and assert dominance.

Fascists manipulate history to legitimize their power and suppress dissenting narratives. Cultural memory is crucial in resisting the rewriting of historical events. Understanding historical manipulation is vital to safeguarding democratic society and future freedoms.

Erasing History exposes the sinister practices of fascist regimes as they manipulate historical narratives to consolidate their power. By exploring key examples throughout modern history the book reveals how authoritarian leaders have systematically erased inconvenient truths to construct an alternate reality that benefits their agenda. Discover the methods used by these regimes to control public perception and instill a version of history that elevates their ideology while demonizing dissenters.

With thoughtful analysis and compelling evidence the book examines the psychological and societal impacts of these distorted narratives on collective consciousness. This powerful work not only highlights the dangers of rewriting history but also underscores the importance of safeguarding the truth for the future of democratic societies. As contemporary echoes of past ideologies resurface Erasing History' serves as a timely reminder of the need for vigilance and resistance against manipulation.

The book’s poignant reflections and in-depth research offer an eye-opening perspective on the power of history memory and the persistent battle for truth. Through examining these complex dynamics readers are equipped with the knowledge to challenge and resist authoritarian influences in the world around them.

This book leverages an insightful blend of historical analysis and contemporary examples bringing fresh understanding to the complex intertwining of power and memory The author expertly navigates through different periods of fascism providing readers with a comprehensive overview that remains relevant to current global political climates By connecting past historical manipulation to present-day scenarios Erasing History' offers readers both a warning and a guide to understanding and combating authoritarianism in its various forms.