How Neofascism Emerges from Neoliberal Capitalism

Abstract In this article we argue that neofascism has emerged from the crisis of neoliberal capitalism. We begin by locating neofascism within the contemporary dynamics of capitalist crisis, including the legitimacy crisis of the capitalist state, the relationship between neofascist ideology and capitalist political coalitions, and the similarities and differences between neofascism and earlier varieties of fascism. Toward that end, we analyze neofascism as having a much closer relationship to neoliberal ideology than is commonly understood, especially given the decades long theorizing by neoliberals about how to use the state to prevent democratic movements from interfering with capitalist accumulation and market imperatives. Therefore, our article is intended to sharpen the theoretical, ideological, and empirical relationship between neoliberalism and neofascism. It is also intended to help build an effective political response to defeat neofascism instead of simply recreating the conditions for its perpetual re-emergence.