Giroux reminds us of Horkheimer and Adorno’s insights that liberalism and capitalism have inherent fascist potential, that fascism is a terroristic version of capitalism, that fascist potential has not ceased to exist after the end of World War II, and that “whoever is not willing to talk about capitalism should also keep quiet about fascism” (Horkheimer).
For almost 19 years in London, the people I have met have never wanted to talk about capitalism. Most of the students I got across hold a strong belief in it. What is mainly required is for capitalism to be managed properly by the right people and, in countries in Africa, Asia and the MENA region, it is mainly about the state and the institutions and the right implementaion of recipes.
People want to hear about the "freedom" they enjoy, how "tolerant" their society is, the cheap flights, iphones, music, a T.V series or a sitcom......and don't want to feel uncomfortable hearing about capitalist violence manifested in the results of the Syrian regime's neoliberal policies, the cheap clothes we get from the sweat and blood of Bangladashies, the Valentine flowers harvested by exploited Colombians, their acceptance of exorbitant tuition fees, banning of trade unions, massive financial corruption, the Western institutions and individuals in collaboration with local rulers involved in indebting countries, the indifference to the plight of the refugees, dispossession of land and destruction of the environment...the destruction of Iraq... hypocrisy...! For them there is nothing structural about capitalism and imperialism.
When Brexit came and Trump was elected, suddenly I saw people upset. They know who I am, but no one in my 19 years ever apologised for the actions of the regimes they have supported, be it the American, the French, the British ...
"Whoever is not willing to talk about capitalism should also keep quiet about fascism” (Horkheimer) or fascistic tendencies, and "terrorism".
The Culture of Neoliberal Fascism
Or, The Terror of the Unforeseen
For almost 19 years in London, the people I have met have never wanted to talk about capitalism. Most of the students I got across hold a strong belief in it. What is mainly required is for capitalism to be managed properly by the right people and, in countries in Africa, Asia and the MENA region, it is mainly about the state and the institutions and the right implementaion of recipes.
People want to hear about the "freedom" they enjoy, how "tolerant" their society is, the cheap flights, iphones, music, a T.V series or a sitcom......and don't want to feel uncomfortable hearing about capitalist violence manifested in the results of the Syrian regime's neoliberal policies, the cheap clothes we get from the sweat and blood of Bangladashies, the Valentine flowers harvested by exploited Colombians, their acceptance of exorbitant tuition fees, banning of trade unions, massive financial corruption, the Western institutions and individuals in collaboration with local rulers involved in indebting countries, the indifference to the plight of the refugees, dispossession of land and destruction of the environment...the destruction of Iraq... hypocrisy...! For them there is nothing structural about capitalism and imperialism.
When Brexit came and Trump was elected, suddenly I saw people upset. They know who I am, but no one in my 19 years ever apologised for the actions of the regimes they have supported, be it the American, the French, the British ...
"Whoever is not willing to talk about capitalism should also keep quiet about fascism” (Horkheimer) or fascistic tendencies, and "terrorism".
The Culture of Neoliberal Fascism
Or, The Terror of the Unforeseen