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Shadows of the Republic: The Rebirth of Fascism in America and How to Defeat It for Good
What is driving the rise of fascism--and how can we stop it?
In this singular investigation into the sinister realms of fascism and its many guises, Omer Aziz, author of the acclaimed Brown Boy and contributing writer for the Boston Globe, sets out to answer the Why are so many young people like him drifting to the ultranationalist right? Shadows of the Republic offers a haunting portrait of American fascism, how it began, and why it is now focused on immigration, technology, and the purification of society.
Fascism is not coming to America; it has been here for a long time. With astringent clarity, Aziz traces the flaring up of fascist ideas in both American history and our current moment. From the dominance of the KKK, to the Nazi rally in New York in 1939, to the alliances between U.S. elites and European fascists, Aziz examines the long shadows of fascism. Traveling across the United States and Europe, he illuminates connections between street fascists and the ones in suits, between Hitler and the country across the ocean he so admired. Aziz examines culture in Germany and Italy in the 1930s, where propaganda ministers made people believe both everything and nothing, and he examines the apppeal of the far right among the very group it targets. Using interviews with experts and his own experience, he also offers an anti-fascist playbook to reinvigorate democracy and our civic life.
Fascism is a precise term, cheapened by overuse. Yet when a word describes reality, we can't afford to ignore it. From the pulsing power of an ideology of the past to its comeback among even those with the most to lose, Shadows of the Republic offers the definitive story of American fascism--and what we can do to salvage democracy for years to come.
In this singular investigation into the sinister realms of fascism and its many guises, Omer Aziz, author of the acclaimed Brown Boy and contributing writer for the Boston Globe, sets out to answer the Why are so many young people like him drifting to the ultranationalist right? Shadows of the Republic offers a haunting portrait of American fascism, how it began, and why it is now focused on immigration, technology, and the purification of society.
Fascism is not coming to America; it has been here for a long time. With astringent clarity, Aziz traces the flaring up of fascist ideas in both American history and our current moment. From the dominance of the KKK, to the Nazi rally in New York in 1939, to the alliances between U.S. elites and European fascists, Aziz examines the long shadows of fascism. Traveling across the United States and Europe, he illuminates connections between street fascists and the ones in suits, between Hitler and the country across the ocean he so admired. Aziz examines culture in Germany and Italy in the 1930s, where propaganda ministers made people believe both everything and nothing, and he examines the apppeal of the far right among the very group it targets. Using interviews with experts and his own experience, he also offers an anti-fascist playbook to reinvigorate democracy and our civic life.
Fascism is a precise term, cheapened by overuse. Yet when a word describes reality, we can't afford to ignore it. From the pulsing power of an ideology of the past to its comeback among even those with the most to lose, Shadows of the Republic offers the definitive story of American fascism--and what we can do to salvage democracy for years to come.
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Published May 18, 2026
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July 25, 2026
Real Rating: 4.25* of five
The Publisher Says: What is driving the rise of fascism—and how can we stop it?
In this singular investigation into the sinister realms of fascism and its many guises, Omer Aziz, author of the acclaimed Brown Boy and contributing writer for the Boston Globe, sets out to answer the Why are so many young people like him drifting to the ultranationalist right? Shadows of the Republic offers a haunting portrait of American fascism, how it began, and why it is now focused on immigration, technology, and the purification of society.
Fascism is not coming to America; it has been here for a long time. With astringent clarity, Aziz traces the flaring up of fascist ideas in both American history and our current moment.
From the dominance of the KKK, to the Nazi rally in New York in 1939, to the alliances between U.S. elites and European fascists, Aziz examines the long shadows of fascism. Traveling across the United States and Europe, he illuminates connections between street fascists and the ones in suits, between Hitler and the country across the ocean he so admired. Aziz examines culture in Germany and Italy in the 1930s, where propaganda ministers made people believe both everything and nothing, and he examines the apppeal of the far right among the very group it targets. Using interviews with experts and his own experience, he also offers an anti-fascist playbook to reinvigorate democracy and our civic life.
Fascism is a precise term, cheapened by overuse. Yet when a word describes reality, we can't afford to ignore it. From the pulsing power of an ideology of the past to its comeback among even those with the most to lose, Shadows of the Republic offers the definitive story of American fascism—and what we can do to salvage democracy for years to come.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: From the publisher's blurbs:
Not bad, as a group of famous names lending a book their luster. It helps that Brown Boy already proved Author Omer's literary cred to all and sundry. (If you've never read it, your library has a decent chance of having a copy on their shelves.) A man with multiple degrees from good schools who happens to be from a Pakistani-Canadian immigrant family knows exclusion and profiling intimately. It's why he speaks with the passion for his antifascist beliefs that clearly powers his writing of this book.
What will likely open the reader's eyes is the depth and age of fascism's roots in the US. It's really easy to say "it's this regime's doing" but it ain't the whole truth, or even close to it. In doing the reporting for this book, Author Omer delved into the different identities in modern fascism, from street-level grievance-led prejudice to boardroom media-trained corporatism. Each branch of the shrub has its own genesis, its own (perverse) virtue-signaling, and its own class systems to go with its origins.
A serious problem we're watching play out in real time is the anti-intellectual fervor of fascists. Ultimately, Author Omer decries the harms being done to all of us now, but points out we can use this same reality against the fascists. It's heartening to read a book that doesn't just ring the tocsin for the republic for which we stand, but shows us who's resisting (or resisted before) and how.
I'm sad there was not *more* of that in the read, but understand the reasoning of focusing on presenting the system so we can stop making the fumblimg foolery that's led us to this dark passage in our country's existence. It's widely applicable to many places, of course, but wow are the people of the US led carefully away from thinking critically about what's happening around us. Author Omer explains how effectively and helpfully but maybe a bit too often.
Author Omer is a fine, approachable guide to the perpetrators and the resisters. It's clear whose side he's on but he doesn't fall into the trap where I live my life, ie vilifying The Others and treating them as unworthy shitty beings. I admire this character trait. I have never in my rising-seventy years on Earth been able to emulate it. Would that I could, but at least Author Omer provides example and encouragement to try, try again.
As a read, this is a fine experience; as a guide to resistance, this is an inspiring collection of ideas; as a way to support people who are doing good work in the world, buying a copy of this book is a good investment.
The Publisher Says: What is driving the rise of fascism—and how can we stop it?
In this singular investigation into the sinister realms of fascism and its many guises, Omer Aziz, author of the acclaimed Brown Boy and contributing writer for the Boston Globe, sets out to answer the Why are so many young people like him drifting to the ultranationalist right? Shadows of the Republic offers a haunting portrait of American fascism, how it began, and why it is now focused on immigration, technology, and the purification of society.
Fascism is not coming to America; it has been here for a long time. With astringent clarity, Aziz traces the flaring up of fascist ideas in both American history and our current moment.
From the dominance of the KKK, to the Nazi rally in New York in 1939, to the alliances between U.S. elites and European fascists, Aziz examines the long shadows of fascism. Traveling across the United States and Europe, he illuminates connections between street fascists and the ones in suits, between Hitler and the country across the ocean he so admired. Aziz examines culture in Germany and Italy in the 1930s, where propaganda ministers made people believe both everything and nothing, and he examines the apppeal of the far right among the very group it targets. Using interviews with experts and his own experience, he also offers an anti-fascist playbook to reinvigorate democracy and our civic life.
Fascism is a precise term, cheapened by overuse. Yet when a word describes reality, we can't afford to ignore it. From the pulsing power of an ideology of the past to its comeback among even those with the most to lose, Shadows of the Republic offers the definitive story of American fascism—and what we can do to salvage democracy for years to come.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: From the publisher's blurbs:
"A comprehensive work on fascism and America's democracy."—BOB WOODWARD
"An alarm bell announcing that the American house is on fire."—STEPHEN KING
"A provocative and passionate reminder that democracies don't collapse overnight."—CALEB GAYLE
Not bad, as a group of famous names lending a book their luster. It helps that Brown Boy already proved Author Omer's literary cred to all and sundry. (If you've never read it, your library has a decent chance of having a copy on their shelves.) A man with multiple degrees from good schools who happens to be from a Pakistani-Canadian immigrant family knows exclusion and profiling intimately. It's why he speaks with the passion for his antifascist beliefs that clearly powers his writing of this book.
What will likely open the reader's eyes is the depth and age of fascism's roots in the US. It's really easy to say "it's this regime's doing" but it ain't the whole truth, or even close to it. In doing the reporting for this book, Author Omer delved into the different identities in modern fascism, from street-level grievance-led prejudice to boardroom media-trained corporatism. Each branch of the shrub has its own genesis, its own (perverse) virtue-signaling, and its own class systems to go with its origins.
A serious problem we're watching play out in real time is the anti-intellectual fervor of fascists. Ultimately, Author Omer decries the harms being done to all of us now, but points out we can use this same reality against the fascists. It's heartening to read a book that doesn't just ring the tocsin for the republic for which we stand, but shows us who's resisting (or resisted before) and how.
I'm sad there was not *more* of that in the read, but understand the reasoning of focusing on presenting the system so we can stop making the fumblimg foolery that's led us to this dark passage in our country's existence. It's widely applicable to many places, of course, but wow are the people of the US led carefully away from thinking critically about what's happening around us. Author Omer explains how effectively and helpfully but maybe a bit too often.
Author Omer is a fine, approachable guide to the perpetrators and the resisters. It's clear whose side he's on but he doesn't fall into the trap where I live my life, ie vilifying The Others and treating them as unworthy shitty beings. I admire this character trait. I have never in my rising-seventy years on Earth been able to emulate it. Would that I could, but at least Author Omer provides example and encouragement to try, try again.
As a read, this is a fine experience; as a guide to resistance, this is an inspiring collection of ideas; as a way to support people who are doing good work in the world, buying a copy of this book is a good investment.
July 21, 2026
Shadows of the Republic has to go through a huge amount of history to show fascism isn't new on US grounds. Even more scarily, it's coming back worldwide. We see it in India. In Germany. In Italy. In the UK. In Canada. In Russia.
I feel though that a book meant to chart fascism in the US spends a lot of time overseas. But I can understand it. We need to show it isn't just a US problem, otherwise it allows fascism overseas to build up quietly while eyes are elsewhere.
I enjoyed the trip I take often given where I work.
It also points out that being female or a minority doesn't prevent you from being a fascist. Focusing on the demographics isn't important. Their actions and words are.
It all brings to mind the Twilight Zone episode "He's Alive": "That was another time. Another place, another kind of people. That doesn't go here." "That's what we said, too. Temporary insanity, part of the passing scene too monstrous to be real. So we ignored them or laughed at them. Because we couldn't believe that there were enough insane people to walk alongside of them. And then one morning, the country woke up from an uneasy sleep and there was no more laughter."
The later part of the book reminds me a bit of To Catch a Fascist with its warnings and playbooks. And then there are the parts of a new Bill of Rights that reflect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, championed by FDR's widow, Eleanor.
(I do want to point out that Raphael Lemkin of blessed memory was also a Jew who was practically the sole survivor of his family from the Holocaust. He lost over a dozen family members. And he was constantly raising the issue that the USSR was very much guilty of committing genocide back in 1932 to 1933, predominantly hitting Ukrainians and Jews. Sadly he passed away before he could convince the world he was right. It says a lot that before him we didn't have a word for mass murder now known as genocide. Not in time for the first Nuremberg Trial to be used as a separate charge.)
Thank you NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for the review copy!
I feel though that a book meant to chart fascism in the US spends a lot of time overseas. But I can understand it. We need to show it isn't just a US problem, otherwise it allows fascism overseas to build up quietly while eyes are elsewhere.
I enjoyed the trip I take often given where I work.
It also points out that being female or a minority doesn't prevent you from being a fascist. Focusing on the demographics isn't important. Their actions and words are.
It all brings to mind the Twilight Zone episode "He's Alive": "That was another time. Another place, another kind of people. That doesn't go here." "That's what we said, too. Temporary insanity, part of the passing scene too monstrous to be real. So we ignored them or laughed at them. Because we couldn't believe that there were enough insane people to walk alongside of them. And then one morning, the country woke up from an uneasy sleep and there was no more laughter."
The later part of the book reminds me a bit of To Catch a Fascist with its warnings and playbooks. And then there are the parts of a new Bill of Rights that reflect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, championed by FDR's widow, Eleanor.
(I do want to point out that Raphael Lemkin of blessed memory was also a Jew who was practically the sole survivor of his family from the Holocaust. He lost over a dozen family members. And he was constantly raising the issue that the USSR was very much guilty of committing genocide back in 1932 to 1933, predominantly hitting Ukrainians and Jews. Sadly he passed away before he could convince the world he was right. It says a lot that before him we didn't have a word for mass murder now known as genocide. Not in time for the first Nuremberg Trial to be used as a separate charge.)
Thank you NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for the review copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
At a time when high-school-age boys in America are polling more conservative than in any recent generation, books like this are of the utmost importance. An easy-to-read, honest introduction to fascism and how to combat it, this book reminds us that fascism isn't just making its way to our country - its seeds were already planted at the very forming of our nation. It allows us to understand how we arrived at this moment and gives us tools to defeat the rising tide of fascism so we can restore democracy and freedom.
It's easy to blame our current situation on Trump alone, but doing so would be a mistake. He just happened to step into the opportunity that had been building for a long time, and it's important to understand what gave rise to Trump and the social and economic (etc.) factors that lead people to embrace fascism. This book gives a glimpse into these factors, along with strategies used by fascists to exploit them. The author is also honest about where the center and left have misstepped, and what they need to do to correct themselves.
Looking back at the Klan (considered the first fascist organization in history), the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, examples in American history, and the current political environment both at home and abroad, this book is well-paced and informative. It is honest about the fact that the challenge facing us will require moral fortitude and courage. The road will not be easy. But the most important things never are. And, as fraught as these times are, there is hope. The book ends with examples of resistance, both in the past and today, and a playbook of our own for taking up the mantle of resistance ourselves, on both the individual and the party level.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about how we got here and/or how we get out of this mess.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It's easy to blame our current situation on Trump alone, but doing so would be a mistake. He just happened to step into the opportunity that had been building for a long time, and it's important to understand what gave rise to Trump and the social and economic (etc.) factors that lead people to embrace fascism. This book gives a glimpse into these factors, along with strategies used by fascists to exploit them. The author is also honest about where the center and left have misstepped, and what they need to do to correct themselves.
Looking back at the Klan (considered the first fascist organization in history), the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, examples in American history, and the current political environment both at home and abroad, this book is well-paced and informative. It is honest about the fact that the challenge facing us will require moral fortitude and courage. The road will not be easy. But the most important things never are. And, as fraught as these times are, there is hope. The book ends with examples of resistance, both in the past and today, and a playbook of our own for taking up the mantle of resistance ourselves, on both the individual and the party level.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about how we got here and/or how we get out of this mess.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 29, 2026
Are the seeds of fascism really planted in the United States Constitution? Omer Aziz brings forward in Shadows of the Republic an easy to understand explanation of fascism and why countries slide into fascism. When thinking of a Fascist ruler, we usually think of Mussolini and Hitler. When using Aziz’s descriptions, he shows how we have already had president’s that began to resemble a fascist despot and in modern times the American presidency is looking more like a monarch through election. This realization was very thought-provoking when it came to the fact that a couple of these presidents, both liberals and far right claim to be representative of their ideology.
This book reads like a nonfiction horror novel. I was not prepared for how scary of a place we as a country are in at the moment. Aziz spoke to my fears and gave examples of things I had not even thought about in holding our democracy together. With the use of AI and social media complicating what information we consume, the opportunity for fascists to take over is made so much easier.
Each chapter gives a well researched topic that brings everything back to Fascism is the shadow of democracy. Some chapters seem longer and redundant but many topic do overlap. A few examples of these topics include, far right recruitment on the rise, how late capitalism leads to fascism, signs of fascism in other countries and the history of fascism in America and throughout the world. Aziz does take time to list ways to resist fascism such as getting out and not being complacent, overturn Citizens United, getting back to capitalism that works best for everyone by not having monopolies.
This book is a must read for everyone no matter where you stand on the political spectrum.
Thank you NetGalley, Omer Aziz and Broadleaf Books for providing this eARC for review.
This book reads like a nonfiction horror novel. I was not prepared for how scary of a place we as a country are in at the moment. Aziz spoke to my fears and gave examples of things I had not even thought about in holding our democracy together. With the use of AI and social media complicating what information we consume, the opportunity for fascists to take over is made so much easier.
Each chapter gives a well researched topic that brings everything back to Fascism is the shadow of democracy. Some chapters seem longer and redundant but many topic do overlap. A few examples of these topics include, far right recruitment on the rise, how late capitalism leads to fascism, signs of fascism in other countries and the history of fascism in America and throughout the world. Aziz does take time to list ways to resist fascism such as getting out and not being complacent, overturn Citizens United, getting back to capitalism that works best for everyone by not having monopolies.
This book is a must read for everyone no matter where you stand on the political spectrum.
Thank you NetGalley, Omer Aziz and Broadleaf Books for providing this eARC for review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This book was… honestly an eye opener.
Not in a dramatic, fear-mongering way—but in a quietly unsettling, “oh… this makes a little too much sense” kind of way.
Omer Aziz breaks down fascism in a way that feels both historical and painfully current. And what really stuck with me is this:
fascism isn’t new. It never actually left.
That idea alone sent me down a full rabbit hole—and the deeper I went, the more I kept landing on the same conclusions he presents in this book.
It’s easy to point fingers at one person, one administration, one moment in time and say “this is the problem.”
But this book makes it very clear that the issue runs much deeper than that.
It’s not about a single figure.
It’s about an ideology—one that has been built, reinforced, and allowed to exist over time.
And that’s what makes this book feel so important.
Aziz doesn’t just trace the history (from the KKK to the 1939 Nazi rally in New York to modern-day movements), he connects it in a way that shows how these ideas evolve, adapt, and resurface—sometimes in ways we don’t immediately recognize.
What I appreciated most is that this isn’t just analysis—it also pushes readers to think about responsibility.
Where do we stand?
What are we ignoring?
What are we allowing?
Because at the end of the day, we’re not as removed from these systems as we might want to believe.
This was incredibly educational, deeply thought-provoking, and at times uncomfortable—but in a way that feels necessary.
Definitely one that will have you reflecting long after you finish the last page.
Not in a dramatic, fear-mongering way—but in a quietly unsettling, “oh… this makes a little too much sense” kind of way.
Omer Aziz breaks down fascism in a way that feels both historical and painfully current. And what really stuck with me is this:
fascism isn’t new. It never actually left.
That idea alone sent me down a full rabbit hole—and the deeper I went, the more I kept landing on the same conclusions he presents in this book.
It’s easy to point fingers at one person, one administration, one moment in time and say “this is the problem.”
But this book makes it very clear that the issue runs much deeper than that.
It’s not about a single figure.
It’s about an ideology—one that has been built, reinforced, and allowed to exist over time.
And that’s what makes this book feel so important.
Aziz doesn’t just trace the history (from the KKK to the 1939 Nazi rally in New York to modern-day movements), he connects it in a way that shows how these ideas evolve, adapt, and resurface—sometimes in ways we don’t immediately recognize.
What I appreciated most is that this isn’t just analysis—it also pushes readers to think about responsibility.
Where do we stand?
What are we ignoring?
What are we allowing?
Because at the end of the day, we’re not as removed from these systems as we might want to believe.
This was incredibly educational, deeply thought-provoking, and at times uncomfortable—but in a way that feels necessary.
Definitely one that will have you reflecting long after you finish the last page.
July 19, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What can I say? As a big-time reader of American History, I keep picking up books exploring the systemic ways democracy has been undermined for decades. That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in today. Fascism has long been around in the United States. It’s just that every time the movement would rise up, it wasn’t completely eradicated and was left to fester and come alive again and again. We’re seeing it more and more in younger men who are skewing more conservative than previous generations.
The fascist ideology was always in our country’s DNA, but it really became apparent publicly with the rise of the KKK. Considered to be the first fascist organization, the Klan has been revived as many times as it became apparent that real Americans’ goals of equality for all was making some progress. There have always been angry white men whose feelings get hurt when others get one stop closer to equality with them, whether it’s minorities, women, or trans people.
I’ve read many books that have had different angles with how and why America came to be a cesspool (White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History is one of my favorite books on the topic). What I liked the most about Shadows of the Republic is that rather than an historical autopsy, there are real, proactive and actionable ways we can and will resist no matter what. Highly recommend!
What can I say? As a big-time reader of American History, I keep picking up books exploring the systemic ways democracy has been undermined for decades. That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in today. Fascism has long been around in the United States. It’s just that every time the movement would rise up, it wasn’t completely eradicated and was left to fester and come alive again and again. We’re seeing it more and more in younger men who are skewing more conservative than previous generations.
The fascist ideology was always in our country’s DNA, but it really became apparent publicly with the rise of the KKK. Considered to be the first fascist organization, the Klan has been revived as many times as it became apparent that real Americans’ goals of equality for all was making some progress. There have always been angry white men whose feelings get hurt when others get one stop closer to equality with them, whether it’s minorities, women, or trans people.
I’ve read many books that have had different angles with how and why America came to be a cesspool (White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History is one of my favorite books on the topic). What I liked the most about Shadows of the Republic is that rather than an historical autopsy, there are real, proactive and actionable ways we can and will resist no matter what. Highly recommend!
May 10, 2026
Minuteman. Skimmed, copied Prologue. Roots and history to present day.
July 16, 2026
This book is a wonderful mess! It's not a comprehensive study of fascism, nor is it trying to be. Rather, Aziz is using writing strategies, story telling, and immersive description in order to illuminate the history, feelings, context, and influences of fascism in the past and what the author sees as the resurgence of fascism in our times.
One thing I appreciate is that Aziz makes his own attempts at a definition of fascism which seems to follow Robert Paxton but also has elements of Roger Griffin. He is not *just* looking at fascist propaganda like Jason Stanley does in his book *How Fascism Works*. Instead, Aziz is making the case that the global seeds of fascism were laying dormant within the global powers of the 20th and 21st century. He makes gestures towards understanding this resurgence as a global phenomenon, and even has a whole chapter devoted to this, but his main evidence comes from drawing on American history (especially the work of James Q. Whitman and his book *Hitler's Anerican Model*). While Aziz does not explicitly say it, it seems he's hinting at how the history of Liberalism itself has it's own dark shadow of capitalist exploitation, colonialism, and slavery. Hence, the title *Shadows of the Republic* is pretty apt. My rating has less to do with the overall argument and structure of the book, which is a huge and delightful mess, and more to do with my own personal enjoyment of the book and how it's help shape my own thinking on various topics. I especially like his description of the tech world as "power pagans", and how he later ties this into Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel.
Again, and I'll keep repeating, the book is a huge mess. However, as a professor once told me about a paper I was writing for a JINS class on the history and spread of chess, it's a wonderful mess! That seems to be the best way I can justify a 5 star rating and an inclusion into my favorites list despite the many flaws of the book. Some might read it and scoff at the book - its assumptions, analysis, and claims. But to me the book at the very least is extremely prescient, even if the author is wrong to use the word fascism to describe our current cultural/political moment. There are things I think the book could have done better, and there are things that are left out or not explored in enough detail. That being said, this does not mean one should skip this book.
The book is a mess, but it's a delightful and wonderful mess! It's a mess that get get one to look at the world and current events in a different way. It's not something that's up to par with the careful analysis of Roger Griffin, Robert Paxton, or any other scholars of fascism studies. Do not go into this book looking for a comprehensive analysis of fascism and how to diagnose it in our times. If you're skeptical of that claim, you won't be swayed by this book. But you shouldn't expect to be swayed by this book. The publisher Broadleaf books isn't exactly known for the same careful, academic analysis as its parent publisher Fortress Press. Furthermore, the book's not written by a fascism studies scholar. It's written by a lawyer who's trying to understand the world of the last 10 years since 2016, and how we got here. In that way, this book does what it dets out to do: explore how the forces of fascism which have for so long laid dormant within America have begun to stretch their shadow across more and more swaths of land. And if Aziz is right, this shadow is the shadow of the history and the unfulfilled promise of American Liberalism (and I'd argue the history of the unfullfilled promises of Liberalism writ large) itself.
One thing I appreciate is that Aziz makes his own attempts at a definition of fascism which seems to follow Robert Paxton but also has elements of Roger Griffin. He is not *just* looking at fascist propaganda like Jason Stanley does in his book *How Fascism Works*. Instead, Aziz is making the case that the global seeds of fascism were laying dormant within the global powers of the 20th and 21st century. He makes gestures towards understanding this resurgence as a global phenomenon, and even has a whole chapter devoted to this, but his main evidence comes from drawing on American history (especially the work of James Q. Whitman and his book *Hitler's Anerican Model*). While Aziz does not explicitly say it, it seems he's hinting at how the history of Liberalism itself has it's own dark shadow of capitalist exploitation, colonialism, and slavery. Hence, the title *Shadows of the Republic* is pretty apt. My rating has less to do with the overall argument and structure of the book, which is a huge and delightful mess, and more to do with my own personal enjoyment of the book and how it's help shape my own thinking on various topics. I especially like his description of the tech world as "power pagans", and how he later ties this into Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel.
Again, and I'll keep repeating, the book is a huge mess. However, as a professor once told me about a paper I was writing for a JINS class on the history and spread of chess, it's a wonderful mess! That seems to be the best way I can justify a 5 star rating and an inclusion into my favorites list despite the many flaws of the book. Some might read it and scoff at the book - its assumptions, analysis, and claims. But to me the book at the very least is extremely prescient, even if the author is wrong to use the word fascism to describe our current cultural/political moment. There are things I think the book could have done better, and there are things that are left out or not explored in enough detail. That being said, this does not mean one should skip this book.
The book is a mess, but it's a delightful and wonderful mess! It's a mess that get get one to look at the world and current events in a different way. It's not something that's up to par with the careful analysis of Roger Griffin, Robert Paxton, or any other scholars of fascism studies. Do not go into this book looking for a comprehensive analysis of fascism and how to diagnose it in our times. If you're skeptical of that claim, you won't be swayed by this book. But you shouldn't expect to be swayed by this book. The publisher Broadleaf books isn't exactly known for the same careful, academic analysis as its parent publisher Fortress Press. Furthermore, the book's not written by a fascism studies scholar. It's written by a lawyer who's trying to understand the world of the last 10 years since 2016, and how we got here. In that way, this book does what it dets out to do: explore how the forces of fascism which have for so long laid dormant within America have begun to stretch their shadow across more and more swaths of land. And if Aziz is right, this shadow is the shadow of the history and the unfulfilled promise of American Liberalism (and I'd argue the history of the unfullfilled promises of Liberalism writ large) itself.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Broadleaf Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Omer Aziz’s Shadows of the Republic is a harrowing post-mortem of the American experiment that doubles as a survival guide for the modern era. Aziz argues that "fascism is the shadow of democracy," suggesting that the very structures intended to protect liberty often harbor its greatest threats. As an American president blunderingly crashes through all international norms and conventions, watching from the relative safety of Europe feels akin to witnessing a live-action episode of The Thick of It or Veep. However, the dark comedy of political incompetence is eclipsed by a terrifying reality: unlike those satirical scripts, this is not fiction. Aziz poignantly observes that "fascism emerges when the ideals of liberal democracy are neglected," and that "democracy gives its mortal enemies the tools of its own destruction," a warning that feels particularly urgent as we witness the slow rot of institutional guardrails.
The book is exceptionally sharp when deconstructing the structural flaws of the U.S. government, asserting that racism was inadvertently baked into the Constitution from the outset. By "creating a racial hierarchy and a powerful presidency," the founders inadvertently provided the "two qualities that any fascist regime requires." Aziz connects these historical foundations to the modern digital landscape with chilling precision. I was particularly amused—and simultaneously unsettled—by his observation that Gen Z often describes Jordan Peterson as the "gateway drug" into the far-right sphere. It highlights how the path to radicalization has been modernized and gamified, leading to a world where, as Aziz notes, "they forget that democracy requires constant defense not just from external enemies but from slow rot within."
Perhaps the most haunting segment of the book reflects on the legacy of Joseph Goebbels. Aziz argues that the Nazi propaganda chief sought to bend reality until the public could no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood—a state of being that mirrors our current era, now "blessed" with AI to boot. The thought that "Goebbels with social media and AI and multiple algorithms at his fingertips—and censorship power—would be unstoppable today" is a staggering realization of our collective vulnerability. Aziz has crafted a work that is as intellectually rigorous as it is visceral. For anyone trying to make sense of the current global shift toward illiberalism, this title is truly a must-read for this age.
#ShadowsoftheRepublic #NetGalley
Omer Aziz’s Shadows of the Republic is a harrowing post-mortem of the American experiment that doubles as a survival guide for the modern era. Aziz argues that "fascism is the shadow of democracy," suggesting that the very structures intended to protect liberty often harbor its greatest threats. As an American president blunderingly crashes through all international norms and conventions, watching from the relative safety of Europe feels akin to witnessing a live-action episode of The Thick of It or Veep. However, the dark comedy of political incompetence is eclipsed by a terrifying reality: unlike those satirical scripts, this is not fiction. Aziz poignantly observes that "fascism emerges when the ideals of liberal democracy are neglected," and that "democracy gives its mortal enemies the tools of its own destruction," a warning that feels particularly urgent as we witness the slow rot of institutional guardrails.
The book is exceptionally sharp when deconstructing the structural flaws of the U.S. government, asserting that racism was inadvertently baked into the Constitution from the outset. By "creating a racial hierarchy and a powerful presidency," the founders inadvertently provided the "two qualities that any fascist regime requires." Aziz connects these historical foundations to the modern digital landscape with chilling precision. I was particularly amused—and simultaneously unsettled—by his observation that Gen Z often describes Jordan Peterson as the "gateway drug" into the far-right sphere. It highlights how the path to radicalization has been modernized and gamified, leading to a world where, as Aziz notes, "they forget that democracy requires constant defense not just from external enemies but from slow rot within."
Perhaps the most haunting segment of the book reflects on the legacy of Joseph Goebbels. Aziz argues that the Nazi propaganda chief sought to bend reality until the public could no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood—a state of being that mirrors our current era, now "blessed" with AI to boot. The thought that "Goebbels with social media and AI and multiple algorithms at his fingertips—and censorship power—would be unstoppable today" is a staggering realization of our collective vulnerability. Aziz has crafted a work that is as intellectually rigorous as it is visceral. For anyone trying to make sense of the current global shift toward illiberalism, this title is truly a must-read for this age.
#ShadowsoftheRepublic #NetGalley
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