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Politics Social Sciences

By Self Publishing Titans
Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future

Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future

by Jason Stanley

4.8 (7 ratings)
Politics Social Sciences

Published

September 10, 2024

Pages

256 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Atria/One Signal Publishers

Available Formats & Prices

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$14.99

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$22.50

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About This Book

“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.

Introduction

In a world where information flows rapidly and truth becomes ever elusive, "Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future" delves into the unsettling phenomenon of historical manipulation. Through a meticulous examination of past and present examples, this book illuminates how authoritarian regimes and fascists alter historical narratives to maintain power and justify their actions. From the rewriting of textbooks to strategic misrepresentation in media, learn how these chilling tactics threaten democracy and the very fabric of society.

With a focus on both historical and contemporary case studies, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding truth and empowering citizens to recognize and counteract these manipulative strategies.

Key Takeaways

Historical manipulation is a powerful tool for controlling societies and maintaining authoritarian power. Authoritarian regimes use rewritten narratives to justify actions and solidify control. Understanding these tactics is crucial in preserving democracy and truth in society.

Detailed Description

The pursuit of power has always intertwined with control over the narrative of the past. Erasing History reveals how fascists and authoritarian regimes strategically reconstruct historical events to suit their ideologies. This book uncovers the chilling effectiveness of these tactics in shaping societies and controlling minds.

Explore numerous instances where history was remolded by those in power to justify their regimes and solidify control. From erasing dissent to glorifying regimes the book presents a vivid account of manipulated history's destructive power on democratic societies. It also highlights real-world examples that echo through time.

This compelling narrative goes beyond mere storytelling equipping readers with tools to recognize historical manipulation's signs. Through a combination of historical-political insights and practical advice it empowers individuals to question dominant narratives. The protection of factual history emerges as essential.

Engage with thought-provoking analysis that inspires a vigilance for truth. Erasing History emphasizes that preventing historical tampering is critical for preserving societal integrity and democratic values. By revealing these strategies the book calls upon readers to remain conscious of potential manipulations.

Standout Features

Erasing History stands out for its blend of historical research and contemporary analysis providing a comprehensive understanding of how authoritarian regimes manipulate narratives This gives readers both context and applicable insights The book's use of both historical context and current examples allows it to resonate strongly with today's global political climate It becomes a must-read for those interested in power society and truth preservation. It not only highlights historical manipulation tactics but also empowers readers with strategies to counteract them creating an active engaged audience ready to defend democratic integrity.

Book Details

ISBN-10:

1668056917

ISBN-13:

978-1668056912

Dimensions:

5.5 x 1.2 x 8.38 inches

Weight:

2.31 pounds

Specifications

Pages:256 pages
Language:English
Published:September 10, 2024
Publisher:Atria/One Signal Publishers
Authors:Jason Stanley

Rating

4.8

Based on 7 ratings

Customer Reviews

A Must Read

J. Sunday
September 10, 2024

Thoroughly researched, Jason Stanley presents a book with the possibility of an authoritarian regime in America. He shows how omitting critical parts of shared history in schools and universities is a strategy developed by leaders in the world who have been able to manipulate and control societies. I thought: “What can he say that I don’t know already?” A lot. He educates the reader with what has happened in the world with countries such as China, India and Russia that are controlled by authoritarians. Some examples were noted with Hitler’s movement during WWII, McCarthy era in America and Putin’s war in Ukraine. Stanley provided steps that authoritarian governments have used to change democracies with examples from Project 2025. There were classifications that were new to me such as Supremacist Nationalism. It was distressing to read: “America’s greatness stems from both its whiteness and its Christianity” knowing that my ancestor, Thomas Harris, nearly escaped after refusing to join the religious group at a place called the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600s. I learned more about Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán recent speech at a Dallas, TX political event attacking the idea of a mixed race. This book revealed historical accounts of the Native Americans and Black slavery that is an important part of our past. The truth can be overwhelmingly depressing. This book entails a lot of information that can hit hard with reality that made me pause with my own questions. How do we fight back for public education and free-speech at universities? The author said American style liberal arts colleges do not exist in authoritarian countries. Stanley was raised with ancestors who suffered greatly from Hitler and Stalin. He has spent years studying the effects of an authoritarian government and has presented a solid analysis of his findings in this book. He provides evidence of what’s happening in America and helps the reader to understand how we are moving in a direction of Christianity in southern schools and erasing parts of history that can later be manipulated. The author has continued the work of his late father, Manfred Stanley, a Syracuse professor who taught about the meanings of democratic citizenship. Our world is changing with Artificial Intelligence and the massive amounts of internet news along with the bias news from the media. It’s important that we keep informed with the truthful past and present.

Comprehensive and holistic

Verified Purchase
DavidJ
September 15, 2024

Professor Stanley has written a very timely book. Given that we are in an election year where one presidential candidate is calling many things fake news, there is a need for comprehensive and holistic education of history. Professor Stanley describes many examples in history where dismissing, denying, omitting, and lying about historical facts are part of authoritarian regimes. The U.S. is no different other countries such as Germany during Hitler's regime that can change and undermine the direction of a country from democratic to authoritarian. The U.S. is experiencing that today with one party embracing lies and distortions about history to the point of banning books and firing college professors. This is an important book to read and recognize that if we don't honestly confront these lies, we will be like Hitler's regime.