Jason Stanley Books
Jason Stanley is an American philosopher and professor at Yale University, specializing in philosophy of language, epistemology, and political philosophy. His work often addresses propaganda, ideology, and the role of language in shaping political reality.
Known for: How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
Books by Jason Stanley
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
In this incisive work, philosopher Jason Stanley explores the mechanisms and rhetoric that underpin fascist politics. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, he dissects how demagogues exploit fear, resentment, and division to erode democratic norms and consolidate power. The book examines themes such as mythic pasts, anti-intellectualism, and the manipulation of truth, offering a framework for recognizing fascist tendencies in modern societies.
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The Mythic Past
Every fascist politics begins with a story—a myth of a golden age. This myth presents a purified, unified past, a time when the people were strong, virtuous, and undivided. In reality, such a past never existed; the myth is a selective reconstruction that omits complexity and conflict. It becomes a ...
From How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
Propaganda and the Politics of Language
Language is the instrument through which fascist politics transforms perception. Propaganda does not rely on overt falsehoods alone; it reshapes categories of thought. Words like “freedom,” “truth,” and “patriotism” are emptied of substance and refilled with partisan meaning. The result is cognitive...
From How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them
About Jason Stanley
Jason Stanley is an American philosopher and professor at Yale University, specializing in philosophy of language, epistemology, and political philosophy. His work often addresses propaganda, ideology, and the role of language in shaping political reality.
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Jason Stanley is an American philosopher and professor at Yale University, specializing in philosophy of language, epistemology, and political philosophy. His work often addresses propaganda, ideology, and the role of language in shaping political reality.
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