“Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea… and ideas are bulletproof.”

I am solidly and 100 percent an anti-fascist.

It is important to acknowledge these things when writing about the subject. I have seen too much and read too much history to be anything other than against fascism.

With this in mind I think it is important to note that there are weaknesses to historic and current anti-fascist movements that make it difficult to achieve the aims it purports to want – that being the end of fascist movements and governments wherever they may be.

Historically there are a few weaknesses that have plagued anti-fascism, chief among them – the nature of the movement is being largely reactive. The very name tells us this. Fascism rises up and anti-fascism follows suit. Certainly there are people and organizations who have made it their business to maintain vigilence against fascism regardless of whether it exists, but largely, the movement tends to be a step or two behind fascist movements due to its reactionary nature.

The second key weakness is a tendancy for anti-fascist groups and movements toward in-fighting and a distinct lack of unity. Sure, anti-fascists are united in their desire to end fascism but this is largely where the unity ends. How fascism should be ended, socialist, communist, anarchist, the tools that should be used, peaceful or violent revolution? These are all up in the air.

Add to this complex issues and perspectives related to race, creed, gender and sexual orientation and you have a confusing muddle of varying groups seeking to end fascism in one of a thousand different proposed ways.

Some anti-fascists bring additional anti sentiments with them? Typically anti-fascists tend to be anti-racism, anti-discrimination, anti-capitalist, and so much more. Because of the diversity there can be conflict within anti-fascist movements. Who should lead the charge? Where are we charging? How shall we charge? What tools will we bring with us? etc.

This kind if conflict and confusion makes mobilizing dissent very difficult and inefficient.

Meanwhile fascists are brutally simplistic. They typically follow a single, unified leadership/leader and almost mindlessly obey and worship the elite at the top of the heirarchy. They are told “Go here!” and they go. They are told “Hate this” and they hate. It is an incredibly brutal and efficient means of oppressing whomever one wishes to oppress as a fascist.

For these reasons anyone identifying as anti-fascist or antifa for short likely laughed when the United States under Donald Trump decided that “Antifa” was a designated terrorist organizaiton.

“What organization?” We wondered. “Where are we headquartered? Who is our leader? What are our membership fees and am I delinquent?”

Ironically the very attributes that are a weakness in confronting fascism – a lack or unity, no organization, etc. are also anti-fascism’s greatest strength. This is because behind the mask of anti-fascism you will not find an organization. It is a movement, it is an action, it is an idea…as Alan Moore so eloquently says through his protagonist V in his masterpiece graphic novel V for Vendetta:

“Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea… and ideas are bulletproof.”

Anti-fascism resists control, heirarchy and leadership because these are the ingredients that are abused to create the monster that is fascism.

I do think there is opportunity however for a loose affiliation or a more organized and structured network of anti-fascists to continue to operate and develop regardless of where fascism is at. I think sounder structure or at least communication networks can reduce the reactive lag between acts of fascism and responses of anti-fascists.

I also think more anti-fascists need to set aside certain differences for the sake of a common goal – rooting out and destroying fascism wherever it is found. This would definitely be to the benefit of anti-fascists everywhere.