Anti-Fascism in Britain (Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right)

Anti-fascism has long been one of the most active and dynamic areas of radical protest and direct action. Yet it is an area of struggle and popular resistance that remains largely unexplored by historians, sociologists and political scientists.Fully revised and updated from its earlier edition, this book continues to provide the definitive account of anti-fascism in Britain from its roots in the 1930s opposition to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, to the street demonstrations and online campaigns of the twenty-first century. The author draws on an impressive range of sources including official government, police and security services records, the writings and recollections of activists themselves, and the publications and propaganda of anti-fascist groups and their opponents.The book traces the ideological, tactical and organisational evolution of anti-fascist groups and explores their often complicated relationships with the mainstream and radical left, as well as assessing their effectiveness in combating the extreme right. Anti-facism has long been one of the most active and dynamic areas of radical protest and direct action. Yet it is an area of struggle and popular resistance that remains largely unexplored by historians, sociologists and political scientists. Fully revised and updated from its earlier edition, this book continues to provide the definitive account of anti-facism in Britain from its roots in the 1930s opposition to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, to the street demonstrations and online campaigns of the twenty-first century. The author draws on an impressive range of sources including official governement, police and security services records, the writings and recollections of activists themselves, and the publications and propoganda of anti-fascist groups and their opponents. The book traces the ideological, tactical and organisational evolution of anti-fascist groups and explores their often complicated relationships with the mainstream and radical left, as well as assessing their effectiveness in combating the extreme right Cover 1 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright page 7 Dedication 8 Table of Contents 10 Acknowledgements 11 List of abbreviations 12 Introduction 15 Notes 18 1. The origins and development of anti-fascism 1923–35 20 I 20 II 26 III 34 IV 41 V 46 VI 50 Notes 51 2. Opposition to British fascism 1936–45 56 I 56 II 64 III 70 IV 77 V 81 VI 87 Notes 89 3. ‘Never again!’: anti-fascism 1946–66 95 I 95 II 100 III 107 IV 112 V 118 VI 123 Notes 124 4. ‘The National Front is a Nazi front!’: opposition to the National Front 1967–79 130 I 130 II 138 III 145 IV 154 V 157 VI 162 Notes 164 5. Fighting fascism in the eighties and nineties 170 I 170 II 176 III 184 IV 190 V 195 VI 199 Notes 200 6. Opposing fascism in the twenty-first century 206 I 206 II 213 III 219 IV 224 V 229 VI 233 Notes 237 Conclusion 242 Notes 246 Index 247 The Origins And Development Of Anti-fascism 1923-35 -- Opposition To British Fascism 1936-45 -- 'never Again!' : Anti-fascism 1946-66-- 'the National Front Is A Nazi Front!' : Opposition To The National Front 1967-79 -- Fighting Fascism In The Eighties And Nineties -- Opposing Fascism In The Twenty-first Century -- Conclusion. Nigel Copsey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This study defines anti-fascism in broad terms and gives an overview that begins with opposition to the precursors of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists in the 1920s and ends with anti-fascism in the late 1990s