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Fascism or Genocide: How a Decade of Political Disorder Broke American Politics
A deeply reported look at how polarization and compounding crises, including the war in Gaza and threats to democracy, have reshaped American politics
Fascism or Genocide is New York Times Magazine writer Ross Barkan’s sweeping report on the 2024 US election and the decade of political upheaval leading up to it.
As in 2020, Joe Biden campaigned on a platform to save democracy, but fewer voters were persuaded this time. During the Democratic primary season, more than half a million Americans cast votes for “Uncommitted” ballot options to send Biden a message about the urgent need to end the killing in Gaza, with some tagging him “Genocide Joe.”
In contrast, mainstream liberals backed the Democratic ticket in the belief that Trump would put America on the road to fascism. As the director of an influential Palestinian advocacy group tells Barkan, “It’s a choice between fascism or genocide.”
Biden’s withdrawal from the election and Kamala Harris’s subsequent nomination barely changed the narrative. Millions of Democrats stayed home after souring on the party, while others switched allegiance and got behind the Trump team. Fascism or Genocide takes a hard, informed look at the election, focusing on the future of the Democratic Party, the influence and potential of the progressive “Squad,” and ongoing culture wars within the party.
Fascism or Genocide is New York Times Magazine writer Ross Barkan’s sweeping report on the 2024 US election and the decade of political upheaval leading up to it.
As in 2020, Joe Biden campaigned on a platform to save democracy, but fewer voters were persuaded this time. During the Democratic primary season, more than half a million Americans cast votes for “Uncommitted” ballot options to send Biden a message about the urgent need to end the killing in Gaza, with some tagging him “Genocide Joe.”
In contrast, mainstream liberals backed the Democratic ticket in the belief that Trump would put America on the road to fascism. As the director of an influential Palestinian advocacy group tells Barkan, “It’s a choice between fascism or genocide.”
Biden’s withdrawal from the election and Kamala Harris’s subsequent nomination barely changed the narrative. Millions of Democrats stayed home after souring on the party, while others switched allegiance and got behind the Trump team. Fascism or Genocide takes a hard, informed look at the election, focusing on the future of the Democratic Party, the influence and potential of the progressive “Squad,” and ongoing culture wars within the party.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2025
About the author
Ross Barkan
11 books43 followershttps://www.facebook.com/RossBarkanNYC/
Ross Barkan is the author of Demolition Night, a novel, and The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York. His next novel, The Night Burns Bright, will be published in 2022.
An award-winning journalist and former candidate for office, he is a columnist for the Guardian and Jacobin, as well as a contributing writer to the Nation.
His journalism and essays have appeared in a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the New Yorker, New York Magazine, GQ, the Village Voice, and the Columbia Journalism Review.
In both 2017 and 2019, he was the recipient of the New York Press Club’s award for distinguished newspaper commentary. He now teaches journalism at NYU and St. Joseph’s College. He also created a popular newsletter, Political Currents, on New York and national affairs.
Ross Barkan is the author of Demolition Night, a novel, and The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York. His next novel, The Night Burns Bright, will be published in 2022.
An award-winning journalist and former candidate for office, he is a columnist for the Guardian and Jacobin, as well as a contributing writer to the Nation.
His journalism and essays have appeared in a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the New Yorker, New York Magazine, GQ, the Village Voice, and the Columbia Journalism Review.
In both 2017 and 2019, he was the recipient of the New York Press Club’s award for distinguished newspaper commentary. He now teaches journalism at NYU and St. Joseph’s College. He also created a popular newsletter, Political Currents, on New York and national affairs.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 18, 2025
This is not really a book but rather a long essay.
This essay has a few good points :
1. The Democrats lost the 2024 election because of Biden’s selfishness to run again despite no longer being fit to do so (and this being ignored by his entourage).
2. It is a mistake to mix up being Jewish with being pro-Israel.
3. It is not possible to be an ethno-state (Israel claiming to be a Jewish state) while claiming to be a democracy.
None of these points are original or new and the issues of the book’s title Fascism Genocide are never addressed. Even though I read this in only 2 days, it was a waste of my time (and money to buy the book).
This essay has a few good points :
1. The Democrats lost the 2024 election because of Biden’s selfishness to run again despite no longer being fit to do so (and this being ignored by his entourage).
2. It is a mistake to mix up being Jewish with being pro-Israel.
3. It is not possible to be an ethno-state (Israel claiming to be a Jewish state) while claiming to be a democracy.
None of these points are original or new and the issues of the book’s title Fascism Genocide are never addressed. Even though I read this in only 2 days, it was a waste of my time (and money to buy the book).
November 29, 2025
Not entirely (just overwhelmingly) without some interesting insights but this book is unfocused and would have been more effective as a collection of essays (not by much though; probably would’ve been best executed as a few one-liners as memes). Regardless, it is poorly argued and reductive. I could go on but this book doesn’t deserve any more thought than I’ve already given it…truly a poorly researched, concluded, and executed disaster.
Of final note: don't let the title catfish you the way it did me.
Of final note: don't let the title catfish you the way it did me.
April 5, 2026
This was one of the worst books I've read in a while, which is a shame, because I actually agree with the author at times.
In theory, this is a book from a leftwing journalist about the 2015-2025 moment in American politics, which saw the most vibrant growth in left & center-left politics in America in decades, but wasn't able to win the presidency nor able to pass much transformative legislation, and ultimately ends with Trump winning a 2nd term. Why did this happen?
I think that's a great premise for a book. Unfortunately, this is not that book. If someone reading this is a good writer, with coherent thoughts, actually robust politics and not just dumb Twitter grievances they want to air out uncontested, please go write that book. Because this book is complete trash and not worth the paper it is printed on.
Barkan starts off by waxing poetically about Bernie's 2016 presidential campaign, but doesn't really see anything wrong with how that campaign went (ignoring of course, that Bernie's fundamental inability to win over older Black voters was a key reason he couldn't win the 2016 race). And then he's excited about the early left primary victories of 2018, from AOC to Rashida Tlaib to many others, and then the 2020 Bernie presidential campaign that again fails to win. And then the complexities of how the left should have engaged the Biden presidency, tensions over what to fight for, the 2022 midterms, and of course, the massive fissures within the Democratic coalition over the Biden Administration's role in the genocide in Gaza, and Kamala's campaign and ultimate loss to Trump.
If that sounds like a roughly coherent message, don't give him credit for it. He covers this in a disjointed, inconsistent, indirect manner, jumping back and forth across issues, timepoints, political battles, and repeatedly goes off on extended tangents. It's incredibly clear how much derision Barkan has for the "social justice" activist left, claiming they "went too far" with cancel culture / #MeToo / far left demands about policing and immigration that kept them marginal. He repeatedly reminds the reader that good old Saint Bernard never supported these cooky crazy ideas, but the stupid Twitterati just messed it all up.
He can't even articulate a clear position on Palestine, which is wild b/c he chose to title the book "Fascism or Genocide". He repeatedly goes after mainstream Dems for supporting Israeli genocide, but also attacks the left for being too pro-Hamas and saying that BDS is a worthless idea that doesn't work. He points out that Israel has no interest in a two-state solution but that singular binational state is absurd and will never work. So what the fuck does he think we should do? Well, he dedicates a full series of paragraphs to a fever dream hypothetical reparations state for Jews carved out of modern day Germany, which he openly admits would never happen, and then just washes his hands of the whole endeavor.
The book closes with the central vision of this book, a sort of white dudebro "left" nihilism, accepting that Trump has his 1000 year MAGA-reich and has won all the battles on social justice, immigration, policing, trans rights, all because that stupid bitch AOC and her woke friends wouldn't just STFU about pronouns and cancelling people on Twitter.
It's actually extremely evident that this book was finished up in Jan/Feb 2025. B/c absolutely no one with a working brain would say, right now, in Apr 2026, that any leftist should feel as nihilistic about the future as Barkan is. The fight is far from over, and times are very scary. But Trump's anti-immigrant campaign has completely backfired, his approval ratings are in the trash, his party is getting walloped in every election, and there is a clear mass opposition to Trumpism and a yearning for a more emancipatory and progressive politics.
A complete waste of space. Don't read this book.
In theory, this is a book from a leftwing journalist about the 2015-2025 moment in American politics, which saw the most vibrant growth in left & center-left politics in America in decades, but wasn't able to win the presidency nor able to pass much transformative legislation, and ultimately ends with Trump winning a 2nd term. Why did this happen?
I think that's a great premise for a book. Unfortunately, this is not that book. If someone reading this is a good writer, with coherent thoughts, actually robust politics and not just dumb Twitter grievances they want to air out uncontested, please go write that book. Because this book is complete trash and not worth the paper it is printed on.
Barkan starts off by waxing poetically about Bernie's 2016 presidential campaign, but doesn't really see anything wrong with how that campaign went (ignoring of course, that Bernie's fundamental inability to win over older Black voters was a key reason he couldn't win the 2016 race). And then he's excited about the early left primary victories of 2018, from AOC to Rashida Tlaib to many others, and then the 2020 Bernie presidential campaign that again fails to win. And then the complexities of how the left should have engaged the Biden presidency, tensions over what to fight for, the 2022 midterms, and of course, the massive fissures within the Democratic coalition over the Biden Administration's role in the genocide in Gaza, and Kamala's campaign and ultimate loss to Trump.
If that sounds like a roughly coherent message, don't give him credit for it. He covers this in a disjointed, inconsistent, indirect manner, jumping back and forth across issues, timepoints, political battles, and repeatedly goes off on extended tangents. It's incredibly clear how much derision Barkan has for the "social justice" activist left, claiming they "went too far" with cancel culture / #MeToo / far left demands about policing and immigration that kept them marginal. He repeatedly reminds the reader that good old Saint Bernard never supported these cooky crazy ideas, but the stupid Twitterati just messed it all up.
He can't even articulate a clear position on Palestine, which is wild b/c he chose to title the book "Fascism or Genocide". He repeatedly goes after mainstream Dems for supporting Israeli genocide, but also attacks the left for being too pro-Hamas and saying that BDS is a worthless idea that doesn't work. He points out that Israel has no interest in a two-state solution but that singular binational state is absurd and will never work. So what the fuck does he think we should do? Well, he dedicates a full series of paragraphs to a fever dream hypothetical reparations state for Jews carved out of modern day Germany, which he openly admits would never happen, and then just washes his hands of the whole endeavor.
The book closes with the central vision of this book, a sort of white dudebro "left" nihilism, accepting that Trump has his 1000 year MAGA-reich and has won all the battles on social justice, immigration, policing, trans rights, all because that stupid bitch AOC and her woke friends wouldn't just STFU about pronouns and cancelling people on Twitter.
It's actually extremely evident that this book was finished up in Jan/Feb 2025. B/c absolutely no one with a working brain would say, right now, in Apr 2026, that any leftist should feel as nihilistic about the future as Barkan is. The fight is far from over, and times are very scary. But Trump's anti-immigrant campaign has completely backfired, his approval ratings are in the trash, his party is getting walloped in every election, and there is a clear mass opposition to Trumpism and a yearning for a more emancipatory and progressive politics.
A complete waste of space. Don't read this book.
May 1, 2026
Difficult to read at points, clearly lacking in a good, independent editor, Barkan nevertheless introduces engaging ideas on the role of Israeli vs Palestinian interests in American politics.
Chapter 1, a discussion of the election of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez in 2016, the loss of Jamaal Bowman in 2024 from AIPAC opposition, and other issues. Can Democrats agree on "accountability for Israel."
Chapter 2, a discussion of the election of Trump. Barkan describes Republicans as being "woke" in the sense of their own warped political views.
Chapter 3 is supposed to be about Biden, but it's mainly a rant about his desire for an undesirable 2nd term and how people ought to have stopped him earlier. Also DNC politics.
Chapter 4 is supposed to be about social justice movements, but morphs from a discussion of "leaderless left" protest movements to the October 7th Hamas attack and Biden being called "Genocide Joe" by the Palestinian left. Democrats who are not obsessed with the war in Gaza are described as Blue liberals by Barkan. No attempt at explaining why the Palestinian left considers Trump to be equal to Biden or Harris is made.
Chapter 5 discusses why many liberal or leftwing Jews in the US feel a lack of connection with Israel, Democrats who are very supportive of Israel and support for single state instead of a two state solution.
Chapter 6 is called Culture. TikTok is noted for allowing people to watch videos of the war in Gaza and be politicized in support of the Palestinians. This chapter is rather a mess.
Chapter 7 called the Election is something of a leftwing rant against mainstream Democrats. Trump is a genius at creating publicity for himself.
Chapter 8, the Changing Resistance. More ranting about the conspiracy of silence about Biden not being capable of running a second term. Democrats need to regain working class voters.
Chapter 1, a discussion of the election of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez in 2016, the loss of Jamaal Bowman in 2024 from AIPAC opposition, and other issues. Can Democrats agree on "accountability for Israel."
Chapter 2, a discussion of the election of Trump. Barkan describes Republicans as being "woke" in the sense of their own warped political views.
Chapter 3 is supposed to be about Biden, but it's mainly a rant about his desire for an undesirable 2nd term and how people ought to have stopped him earlier. Also DNC politics.
Chapter 4 is supposed to be about social justice movements, but morphs from a discussion of "leaderless left" protest movements to the October 7th Hamas attack and Biden being called "Genocide Joe" by the Palestinian left. Democrats who are not obsessed with the war in Gaza are described as Blue liberals by Barkan. No attempt at explaining why the Palestinian left considers Trump to be equal to Biden or Harris is made.
Chapter 5 discusses why many liberal or leftwing Jews in the US feel a lack of connection with Israel, Democrats who are very supportive of Israel and support for single state instead of a two state solution.
Chapter 6 is called Culture. TikTok is noted for allowing people to watch videos of the war in Gaza and be politicized in support of the Palestinians. This chapter is rather a mess.
Chapter 7 called the Election is something of a leftwing rant against mainstream Democrats. Trump is a genius at creating publicity for himself.
Chapter 8, the Changing Resistance. More ranting about the conspiracy of silence about Biden not being capable of running a second term. Democrats need to regain working class voters.
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars
This book was very informational and I would fully recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about Democratic electoral politics, especially in the context of the 2020s. However, I do think the title was a touch misleading, and I was hoping the author would have spoken more about how the Palestinian genocide is changing the political landscape of America. He did talk about it, but not as much as I would expect from a book with this title
This book was very informational and I would fully recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about Democratic electoral politics, especially in the context of the 2020s. However, I do think the title was a touch misleading, and I was hoping the author would have spoken more about how the Palestinian genocide is changing the political landscape of America. He did talk about it, but not as much as I would expect from a book with this title
September 2, 2025
A useful summary of the last few years politically that allows for some reflection. The author does too much liberal sneering and dismissal of the left without providing much of an alternative, though his take on the need for the left to get over ineffective horizontalism and train up leaders I think is true. Also his theory of a new romanticism I find kind of weak.
October 10, 2025
hmm.. as another reviewer said, and as the new republic mentioned, the author kind of hesitates to really discuss fascism or genocide confidently and boldly. overall not a bad book, but seemed a little reluctant and timid about the topic of the title at times
August 31, 2025
the new republic described this book as “A Book Called Fascism or Genocide That’s Reluctant to Discuss Either.” it was right. good analysis unfortunately dragged down by its heavy focus on democratic electability and an idealist, liberal view of what the united states and israel “could be”
December 11, 2025
Short and somehow sprawling, this book covers too much ground to satisfy. I’m still not clear, for example, why there was a multi-page non-sequitur on Uber. In any case, the Democratic Party is a mess. This book reflects that.
October 19, 2025
DNF
This book had potential - and was covering important and interesting topics, but the author was all over the place making it difficult to follow or pull meaning from.
:(
This book had potential - and was covering important and interesting topics, but the author was all over the place making it difficult to follow or pull meaning from.
:(
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews