Anti-leftist politics in modern world history [Elektronische Ressource] avoiding 'socialism' at all costs

"Systemic and political hostility against the 'left', real and contrived, has been a key, yet under-recognized aspect of the history of the modern world for the past two hundred years. By the 1820s, the new, exploitative and destabilizing character of capitalist industrial production and its accompanying market liberalizations began creating necessities among the working classes and their allies for the new, self-protective politics of 'socialism'. But it is evident that, for the new economic system to sustain itself, such oppositional politics that it necessitated had to be undermined, if not destroyed, by whatever means necessary. Through the imperialism of the later 19th century, and with significant variations, this complex and often highly destructive dialectical syndrome expanded worldwide. Liberals, conservatives, extreme nationalists, fascists, racists, and others have all repeatedly come aggressively and violently into play against 'socialist' oppositions. In this book, Philip Minehan traces the patterns of such hostility and presents numerous crucial examples of it: from Britain, France, Germany and the United States; the British in India; European fascism, the United States and Britain as they operated in China and Indochina; from Kenya, Algeria and Iran; and from Central and South America during the Cold War. In the final chapters, Minehan addresses the post-Cold War, US-led triumphalist wars in the Middle East, the ensuing refugee crises, neo-fascism, and anti-environmentalist politics, to show the ways that the syndrome within which anti-leftist antagonism emerges, in its neoliberal phase since the 1970s, remains as self-destructive and dangerous as ever"-- Provided by publisher "'Socialist' and 'Socialism' have been used as rhetorical weapons for political purposes against real and fictitious targets throughout modern history. Liberals, conservatives, nationalists, fascists and others have all come aggressively and sometimes violently into play against real or contrived 'socialism'. In this book, Philip Minehan traces examples of anti-'socialist' hostility from around the world from the early 19th century. Starting in 19th-century Europe this book considers the rise of leftist opposition as capitalist industrial society expanded. It goes on to consider the role of imperialism in outmaneuvering left-wing political movements during decolonization, the part played by anti-'socialism' in the rise of fascism, nationalism and the world wars, and US aggression against 'The Red Scare' in the latter stages of the 20th century. Taking the reader up to the present day, the author addresses opposition to the left during the wars in the Middle East and the ensuing refugee crisis to demonstrate that fear of the left remains as destructive as ever."-- Provided by publisher