Fighting Fascism

[OUTOFTHENIGHT]

I wonder if any of the comrades could relay their views about any Fascist threats in their areas.In Southampton UK we are battling against 5 fascists standing in the local council elections.We have set up a Coalition of Trade Unionist and other socialist groups and coordinated leafleting and local rallies across the city and will be organising a gig at the end of this month.
It would be good to hear what other comrades feel is the bestway of dealing with the Nazi filth!!
Ian

[Paul M]

I think generally your approach is correct.  The key thing in tackling fascists is not to approach it in a liberal "my God, isn't this awful" way, but to raise class politics to cut across the base of these fascists.  Fascists thrive on discontent with New Labour, a feeling of unrepresentation among working class and lumpenised elements.  The liberal approach of the Anti-Nazi Leage, with their hysterical "Don't vote Nazi" only succeeds in appealing to the establishment, and having respectable anti-racists on platforms, but can actually make BNP etc. seem more appealing and anti-establishment.

Instead, socialist ideas, explaining the role of the Labour Party today, and the need for truly working class representation, along with an exposition of the truly anti-working class character of fascism, as well as explaining from a class perspective the need for solidarity with immigrants, that the English and immigrant ordinary peoples' interests coincide, and that it is big business and the policies of the government which are responsible for housing shortages etc.  A socialist solution must also be posed to these local issues, explaining how a socialist society could provide houses for all, making links between the amount spent on the war on Iraq, and how many houses that could build etc.

To be honest though, while it may jar with some of your comrades, I do think it is crucial that the idea of real working class representation, a mass workers' party, has an important role to play in cutting across the rise of fascism.  It is a fact that many who today vote BNP are disillusioned Labour Party voters. The qualitative change in the Labour Party towards a party of big business must be explained, as must the necessity of building a real alternative, to provide people with a perspective other than fascism, which can solve the problems which face ordinary people everyday.

[Universal]

Your approach seems to be correct, but you might want to try to inspire absolute loyalty from the people to your party. Also, you might want to try to gain as much information legally about them as possible.
With the combined knowledge and knowing what they are and what they want, with the loyalty out of the way so they cannot undermine you, you should be able swiftly and legally defeat them from your congress/senate.
I don't know though how this would work in separate areas outside of the UK. I do know that it has seen A LOT of resistance from the US and their imperialist territories.

[Nakarin]

Yes... We also have these damn fascists in Thailand too (comparatively, yes, but look rather more like ultra-nationalist right-wing), which is called the PAD and consists mostly of those from middle-class, states enterprise workers (like electricity or railway) and some youth. This PAD, of course, tries to eliminate all those, who stand on their way or disagree with them.

I have criticize the PAD and its supporters many times unofficially. But it was only one time having huge comfrontation against PAD, when they march into my university and force everyone to follow them. In that time, we collected all the neutral, liberal and successfully, also peacefully, make a coilition against them.

Now, the PAD has much less influence and coilition, but trying to build their party, possibly to maintain their (little) mass and still continue to lie and discredit every opponent like the same.