British Fascism : A Discourse-Historical Analysis

Fascism is inherently duplicitous, claiming one thing whilst being committed to something else. In examining this dishonesty, it is essential to distinguish between the surface arguments in fascist discourse and the underlying ideological commitments. Analyzing contemporary fascism is particularly difficult, since no fascist party admits to being fascist. Drawing on the critical insights of historical and linguistic research, this book offers an original and discerning approach to the critical analysis of fascism. It demonstrates that any understanding of the continuing popularity of fascist political ideology requires interdisciplinary analysis which exposes the multiple layers of meanings within fascist texts and the ways they relate to social and historic context. It is only through contextualization we can demonstrate that when fascists echo concepts and arguments from mainstream political discourse (e.g. 'British jobs for British workers') they are not being used in the same way.

"John Richardson is an innovator. He has taken British fascism, applied discourse-historical analysis to it and the results are compelling. When it comes to British fascism, this important book will be of lasting significance. It is on my list of must-read books from now on." - Nigel Copsey, Teesside University

"Studying the most complex phenomenon of fascism, as a grand narrative, an ideology, and a set of material and discursive practices is a most timely endeavor and a big challenge. John Richardson has truly excelled in this difficult task. He deconstructs the history of British fascism, its manifold manifestations and its continuation to this day in extraordinary detail. This is a must-read for anybody who would like to understand the rise of the new radical right in the 21st century." - Ruth Wodak, Distinguished Professor and Chair in Discourse Studies, Lancaster University

"In this bold and provocative book, John Richardson shows that fascist discourse often means more than it explicitly says. More important, he reminds us that the study of fascism is not solely of historical importance; his unmasking of the continuities in fascist ideology contains important lessons for making sense of today's volatile political scene." - Dan Stone, Royal Holloway, University of London