Chris Armitage highlights a troubling historical pattern: once fascists gain power through democratic means, they do not relinquish it democratically, typically remaining in control for 30 to 50 years. He warns of this risk in both the USA and the UK, asserting that prevention is the best strategy.
Armitage offers several solutions to combat the rise of fascism:
- Prevention: Address underlying issues like inequality and public service failures that fuel dissatisfaction. Reform voting systems to prevent unchecked power.
- Coalitions: Encourage a unified front among devolved governments, major cities, and local organizations to resist authoritarianism.
- Selective Non-Compliance: Emulate Ireland’s past strategies of mass refusal to obey illegitimate laws, leveraging the UK’s dependence on consent and convention.
- Secession and International Oversight: Utilize existing independence frameworks to deter central abuses of power and rely on international monitoring for scrutiny.
Armitage asserts that democracy requires active defense through political reform, economic justice, and readiness for non-cooperation. Complacency could lead to the rise of fascism, which can only be countered through proactive measures and coalition building before preventive actions fail. Ultimately, safeguarding democracy demands immediate action, not passive hope.
