Tag: brexit

Time to read this again.

Time to read this again.

Originally shared by Jürgen Christoffel

Umberto Eco on the Causes of Fascism

#brexit #trumpism

Ur-Fascism derives from individual or social frustration. That is why one of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups. In our time, when the old “proletarians” are becoming petty bourgeois (and the lumpen are largely excluded from the political scene), the fascism of tomorrow will find its audience in this new majority.

_To people who feel deprived of a clear social identity, Ur-Fascism says that their only privilege is the most common one, to be born in the same country._

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/06/22/ur-fascism/

These are snippets from the new, post- #Brexit United Kingdom.

Originally shared by Jürgen Hubert

These are snippets from the new, post- #Brexit United Kingdom. They are originally from a huge Facebook album, and I am resharing them here because some people can’t access that album.

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.leblanc.718/media_set?set=a.10101369198638985&type=3

Now, some of you might think I am posting this to make an “anti-British statement. But really, I am not.

Instead, I want to make a statement how close xenophobia and racism are slumbering under the surface of society, and how easily they can emerge.

Because I suspect… no, I know damn well that the same could happen in my native Germany. There are already significant groups pandering to hate, racism, and intolerance. PEGIDA. The Alternative für Deutschland party. And if more mainstream politicians feel that they must pander to these, baser instincts – if they indicate that displaying xenophobia is something socially acceptable – then racist incidents will surge just as much in Germany as it is now happening in the United Kingdom.

This could be us.

UK votes to leave EU 52-48% http://www.

Originally shared by Ole Olson

UK votes to leave EU 52-48% http://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2016/jun/23/eu-referendum-live-results-and-analysis #Brexit  

Remain 48% – 16,141,241

Leave 52% – 17,410,742

Ironically, this might actually allow other European nations to have greater unity. The primary foreign policy of England for over 700 years (since the Norman Conquest) has been to preserve their sovereignty by stopping any potential invasions. To do this, they aim to keep the main powers on the European subcontinent weak, and they did this an elaborate system of alliances meant to keep Europe divided.

An extension of this has been to stop any greater integration efforts in the European Union (they haven’t even joined the currency for instance). With their foot dragging out of the way, the other countries could actually now choose for stronger ties, including stronger powers to the political body that governs the EU.

Of course, it would have been better if the UK had chosen to remain and moved into a united future in Europe, but as I understand it the xenophobes and quasi-racists used fear and hate to great effect here turning a slim majority of the nation against Europe.

Now Scotland might have another referendum to leave the UK as a result of this vote. Interesting developments.

#EU   #UK   #UKpolitics   #EuropeanUnion  

You will not leave Europe today.

You will not leave Europe today.

#brexit

Update: well it looks like I badly called it. Britain is likely to vote to leave the EU. Democracy works kids! I’m pretty certain that this isn’t the outcome that the business elite was hoping for. Nor common sense.

Now to see what happens in Scotland, the whole country voted emphatically in favour of staying in the European Union.