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Drums in the Distance: Journeys into the Global Far Right
A terrifying and timely look at the spread of far-right movements across the globe.
Joe Mulhall knows what it’s like to stare fascism in the face. For a decade, often undercover at significant personal risk, he has investigated hate groups.
He infiltrated a US white supremacist militia, set up a fake Ku Klux Klan (KKK) branch, has been on countless street marches with violent far-right groups across Europe, and got inside some of the most important ‘alt-right’ meetings ever held. Brazil, India and the US are still in thrall to authoritarian populism, and far-right views have become steadily normalised in mainstream politics. Mulhall’s dramatic experiences on the front line of anti-fascist activism, coupled with his academic research, clearly explain the roots of both elected and non-elected far-right movements across the globe. Above all, he concludes, the far right should not be dehumanised – they are normal people, but with dangerous beliefs that can be defeated.
Joe Mulhall knows what it’s like to stare fascism in the face. For a decade, often undercover at significant personal risk, he has investigated hate groups.
He infiltrated a US white supremacist militia, set up a fake Ku Klux Klan (KKK) branch, has been on countless street marches with violent far-right groups across Europe, and got inside some of the most important ‘alt-right’ meetings ever held. Brazil, India and the US are still in thrall to authoritarian populism, and far-right views have become steadily normalised in mainstream politics. Mulhall’s dramatic experiences on the front line of anti-fascist activism, coupled with his academic research, clearly explain the roots of both elected and non-elected far-right movements across the globe. Above all, he concludes, the far right should not be dehumanised – they are normal people, but with dangerous beliefs that can be defeated.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2021
24 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 28, 2022
Mulhall's book can at times be a little tough to stay engaged with, vast swaths of the text seem dedicated to thrilling the reader with tales of infiltration and the adrenaline high that comes from operating in such a line of work, while these books sometimes do manage to be engaging more often than not they do little to add to the main work of the text: documenting the rising tide of fascism on a global scale, fortunately the book does succeed in illustrating this point even if it does seem at odds with it's own frame structure at times.
When Mulhall is describing the recent history of fascist movements, he has a skill (no doubt through his years undercover exposing organisations) of linking groups and painting a wider picture of the very real threat that has been expanding in the last decade of so. His efficiency with communicating a timeline of events, their effects and the causes, leads to much to be praised, and as he paints the more international elements of the image, it's interesting to see the way these seemingly distinct stories weave into one another, be that through recurring ideologies or through recurring characters and fears. This first-hand experience seems better communicated when discussing the bigger picture than in the more personal interjections throughout the text strangely.
Very readable, and very thorough, a clear picture of a growing issue explained in an efficiently communicated way. This is a good book. I'm also sure there will be people that ARE thrilled by the tales of undercover work, for me however I found they more often than not distracted from the point. Which is a shame but not one that puts a death nell on the bits of this book that DO Work.
When Mulhall is describing the recent history of fascist movements, he has a skill (no doubt through his years undercover exposing organisations) of linking groups and painting a wider picture of the very real threat that has been expanding in the last decade of so. His efficiency with communicating a timeline of events, their effects and the causes, leads to much to be praised, and as he paints the more international elements of the image, it's interesting to see the way these seemingly distinct stories weave into one another, be that through recurring ideologies or through recurring characters and fears. This first-hand experience seems better communicated when discussing the bigger picture than in the more personal interjections throughout the text strangely.
Very readable, and very thorough, a clear picture of a growing issue explained in an efficiently communicated way. This is a good book. I'm also sure there will be people that ARE thrilled by the tales of undercover work, for me however I found they more often than not distracted from the point. Which is a shame but not one that puts a death nell on the bits of this book that DO Work.
February 19, 2025
Unsure whether to give this 3, 3.5, or 4 stars, but I’ll be nice and offer 4.
The first two thirds of this book are really strong, and there is a very clear effort here to demonstrate the broad family tree of fascism, with an important focus on British groups.
However the last part of the book, specifically the chapters on Modi’s India and Bolsonaro’s Brazil, felt a little out of place, offering just a very brusque outlining of why those two aren’t very nice.
All in all, good read, just a bit unfocused.
The first two thirds of this book are really strong, and there is a very clear effort here to demonstrate the broad family tree of fascism, with an important focus on British groups.
However the last part of the book, specifically the chapters on Modi’s India and Bolsonaro’s Brazil, felt a little out of place, offering just a very brusque outlining of why those two aren’t very nice.
All in all, good read, just a bit unfocused.
October 4, 2024
"Not everyone who voted for Bolsanaro, Trump or Modi is a racist or misogynist - but none of them minded enough about racism or misogyny not to. This is how we will lose. It won't be that everyone will become far-right, it will be not enough people caring about those who are."
Dr Joe Mulhall works as a senior researcher at the organisation HOPE not hate. Decades of research into the history of fascism, as well as personal experience disrupting far-right organisations provides valuable expertise.
This book delves into the depth and breadth of global far-right movements, combining a historical analytical perspective with his own thrilling first hand accounts of anti-fascist infiltrating. Sadly, this book has become more relevant than when it was first published with recent electoral successes for the far-right across Europe. It stands as a guide and a warning; a second fascist era is on the horizon but together we can fight to stop it.
Dr Joe Mulhall works as a senior researcher at the organisation HOPE not hate. Decades of research into the history of fascism, as well as personal experience disrupting far-right organisations provides valuable expertise.
This book delves into the depth and breadth of global far-right movements, combining a historical analytical perspective with his own thrilling first hand accounts of anti-fascist infiltrating. Sadly, this book has become more relevant than when it was first published with recent electoral successes for the far-right across Europe. It stands as a guide and a warning; a second fascist era is on the horizon but together we can fight to stop it.
November 5, 2021
Brilliant book! At first, I thought it will discuss a lot of popular far right movements mainly in the UK (due to the author's origin) and EU, however to my surprise, it also analyzes far right movements in the other side of the globe (no spoiler).
February 6, 2025
Good. Easy to read. Exciting and informative if a little despressing at times. Some decent coverage of Islamaphobia and the far-right outside of Europe, UK and USA. A shame it didn't cover the far-right in Israel and a shame how silent HOPE not hate have been on that dispite all the other amazing work they do.
March 25, 2024
É um livro extremamente massudo mas que é necessário e que dá uma visão ampla do que é a extrema direita, permite-nos observar de várias maneiras, várias perspectivas o seu crescimento ao longo de décadas em várias partes do mundo, práticas que ocorreram que favoreceram esse crescimento inevitável. Acabo por ler este livro enquanto as eleições em Portugal acontecem e consegue-se aplicar exatamente muita das coisas que são citadas no livro sobre o crescimento da extrema direita.
August 7, 2022
Joe Mulhall works at Hope Not Hate and so this book is mainly about his work infiltrating far right groups and organisations around the world - it provides a close up look into how these groups run, how they advertise, some of the seemingly normal people who have joined these groups and how anti-fascist groups like Hope Not Hate try to thwart their activities.
I found that there were a few points in this book where things didn't quite gel together as I would have liked them, but overall it is a very interesting read and I would recommend. One of the issues I felt was where Mulhall brought in his academic knowledge of fascism - talking about theorists / academic language for defining different aspects of fascist ideology. I felt that some of these moments felt shoe-horned in to give the book a more academic feel, but didn't actually seem needed or that they added much.
I suppose also the book focuses very much on his stories with individual far-right groups, whereas the book could have benefitted from some more reflective chapters on the wider state of far-right groups across the world. These were the bits of the book that I enjoyed the most (or maybe enjoyed isn't quite the right word)... and wished there was more of that.
I found that there were a few points in this book where things didn't quite gel together as I would have liked them, but overall it is a very interesting read and I would recommend. One of the issues I felt was where Mulhall brought in his academic knowledge of fascism - talking about theorists / academic language for defining different aspects of fascist ideology. I felt that some of these moments felt shoe-horned in to give the book a more academic feel, but didn't actually seem needed or that they added much.
I suppose also the book focuses very much on his stories with individual far-right groups, whereas the book could have benefitted from some more reflective chapters on the wider state of far-right groups across the world. These were the bits of the book that I enjoyed the most (or maybe enjoyed isn't quite the right word)... and wished there was more of that.
September 30, 2024
“Not everyone who voted for Trump, Bolsonaro or Modi is a racist or misogynist - but none of them minded enough about racism or misogyny not to. This is how we will lose. It won't be that everyone will become far-right, it will be not enough people caring about those who are.”
this was fantastic. in less than 270 pages mulhall crams in an explanation of the rise of the far right from the 1980’s to the present day, from britain and the US to india and brazil. he combines a factual breakdown with names, places, dates and acronyms of various organisations with a sprinkling of anecdotes to bring you back to earth.
at points terrifying, mulhall makes a good case for the ongoing rise of the global far right, but overall hopeful and inspiring: we’re left with the message that we can and must fight back.
this was fantastic. in less than 270 pages mulhall crams in an explanation of the rise of the far right from the 1980’s to the present day, from britain and the US to india and brazil. he combines a factual breakdown with names, places, dates and acronyms of various organisations with a sprinkling of anecdotes to bring you back to earth.
at points terrifying, mulhall makes a good case for the ongoing rise of the global far right, but overall hopeful and inspiring: we’re left with the message that we can and must fight back.
January 1, 2025
A very good book about the rise of the far right across the globe. Mulhall has clearly had a intresting and varied career fighting the far right with HOPE not hate. The most intresting chapter for me was when he was in America with the 'BOA' group. And I enjoyed the more personal sides to the stories told throughout the book.
February 15, 2023
"Joe's Adventures in the Far Right" could be the sub-title of this book.
Joe Mulhhall entwines analysis of right-wing extremism in different points of the globe with accounts of his work in HOPE not hate fighting extremist groups.
It's his personal accounts that makes this an odd book for me, since those tales seem almost as a comic relief in-between the more serious analysis of the topic. At times seems as I'm reading a juvenile action book.
When focused on the actual topic, some interesting insights are brought by the author. The Britain and US chapters are the more detailed, due to his infiltrated work and time spent analyzing them.
The migration crisis is also covered and a note on how these extremist groups can use the climate changes impacts to their benefit it's an relevant point, even if not too deeply analyzed, but that can be expected since it's something quite "new" and not much is known about it yet.
The most irrelevant parts of the book were definitely the ones dedicated to Brazil and India where pretty much which is written could have been easily been picked up from any article from the press.
Would also have liked to get more information on the European right-wing, namely, France, Poland & Hungary and their impact within EU as well as the connection between those groups and Russia (support).
Joe Mulhhall entwines analysis of right-wing extremism in different points of the globe with accounts of his work in HOPE not hate fighting extremist groups.
It's his personal accounts that makes this an odd book for me, since those tales seem almost as a comic relief in-between the more serious analysis of the topic. At times seems as I'm reading a juvenile action book.
When focused on the actual topic, some interesting insights are brought by the author. The Britain and US chapters are the more detailed, due to his infiltrated work and time spent analyzing them.
The migration crisis is also covered and a note on how these extremist groups can use the climate changes impacts to their benefit it's an relevant point, even if not too deeply analyzed, but that can be expected since it's something quite "new" and not much is known about it yet.
The most irrelevant parts of the book were definitely the ones dedicated to Brazil and India where pretty much which is written could have been easily been picked up from any article from the press.
Would also have liked to get more information on the European right-wing, namely, France, Poland & Hungary and their impact within EU as well as the connection between those groups and Russia (support).
September 20, 2023
An interesting insight into the author’s personal experiences infiltrating far right organisations coupled with a general overview of the spread of far right groups and ideology internationally.
Those expecting to find detailed analysis of their root causes may find themselves a little disappointed with some of the brief and inconsistent commentary provided. Chapters on the UK and USA were much more detailed than the chapters on India and Brazil, which felt ever so slightly rushed. In this sense, the book’s synopsis is slightly misleading.
Nevertheless, Mulhall’s writing kept me engaged and I would happily read more by this author.
Those expecting to find detailed analysis of their root causes may find themselves a little disappointed with some of the brief and inconsistent commentary provided. Chapters on the UK and USA were much more detailed than the chapters on India and Brazil, which felt ever so slightly rushed. In this sense, the book’s synopsis is slightly misleading.
Nevertheless, Mulhall’s writing kept me engaged and I would happily read more by this author.
September 22, 2025
Excelente. Misto de reportagem, crônica, relato de viagem e análise política, é uma obra de leitura obrigatória para qualquer pessoa interessada em política e preocupada com os impactos da extrema direita sobre a vida democrática. Mulhall fez um excelente panorama sobre a ascensão da direita radical nas últimas duas décadas.
November 26, 2022
a strange text about how to discriminate between bad authoritarianism, the kind mulhall dislikes, from good authoritarianism, the sort that will actively participate into eliminating whomever mulhall dislikes.
January 6, 2023
I found this book rather insightful and a nice background of why we are where we are in the west when it pertains to the rise of the far-right and neo-fascism.
I don't envy Joe's job, but boy it must be exciting!
I don't envy Joe's job, but boy it must be exciting!
March 10, 2024
Με το ενδιαφέρον της προσωπικής μαρτυρίας και όχι του επιστημονικού συγγράμματος, αποτελεί μια ματιά στη σύγχρονη ακροδεξιά και στο πώς σιγά σιγά γίνεται μεινστριμ στις μεγαλύτερες χώρες του κόσμου (και πώς αυτό παίζει ρόλο για τις μικρότερες)
February 2, 2022
A fascinating, important, and actionable survey of the far right globally. The description of interlinkages is especially illuminating.
March 29, 2023
Cool and engaging book that uses a variety of examples on how the far rights rhetoric is permeating from different avenues into the mainstream
Big up daggers fc too
Big up daggers fc too
December 18, 2024
The drums in question were not Du hast by Rammstein.
August 23, 2023
Unbelievable that the author could write so lucidly about the far right governments around the world, and somehow neglect to include a chapter on the government that imposes apartheid on the Palestinian people.
June 19, 2023
Thin on the details, just a somewhat boring list of places the author went with little to no analysis of the global far right.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews