[AOE9]

I am from the UK and know about Tommy Robinson in passing. I read the ADL article and am struggling to see how he is a fascist, he is anti-islam and anti-immigrant but how does that translate to wanting a dictatorial leader, autocracy, forcible suppression etc like Russia?

[frozen_tomato]

So you at least agree he's racist then?

[AOE9]

Sure, just struggling to understand how to get to fascist.

[projectazorian]

The EDL is basically a union of street thugs, fascist politicians who split off from the BNP, and political opportunists like "Tommy Robinson".

Fascist is an accurate enough term for their politics, the stated political positions may not align 100% to historical fascism, but given all the fascist associations most objective observers would say that's likely to be a product of political positioning rather than any genuine ideological differences.

[AOE9]

Sorry are you saying you believe they are ideological fascists/neo-nazis but are pretending they are not so they can get elected etc?

[projectazorian]

Yes

[mijoharas]

you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me. Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

> a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition

now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL.

* exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

* wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

* by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

[0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism

[AOE9]

> you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the British public don't think he is either. Which is why I am asking how he is one.

> Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

Yeah that is the same definition I was using.

> now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL. > * exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

Sure I agree.

> * wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

Where did this come from? I don't think that article said anything about this.

> * by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

I don't know much about the EDL & what they have done so I couldn't comment on this.

[mijoharas]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League#Relatio...

[AOE9]

So has he ever expressed anti-democratic ideas? Such as wanting a dictatorial leader, autocracy etc that kind of is a key component of fascism.

[mijoharas]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealioning

[AOE9]

I am not sure how I was being a bad actor, I asked the same question three times and was not getting an answer.

> how does that translate to wanting a dictatorial leader, autocracy, forcible suppression etc like Russia?

> > * wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check. > Where did this come from? I don't think that article said anything about this.

You responded to this with a wikipedia article, which said he denounced fascism/neo-nazis & banned people from events.

> So has he ever expressed anti-democratic ideas? Such as wanting a dictatorial leader, autocracy etc that kind of is a key component of fascism.

I don't see how my follow up question was unreasonable given the wikipedia or ADL article you linked never said he expressed anti-democratic ideas.

However, projectazorian has convinced me that while they may not have expressed fascist views directly, with their deep connections to neo-nazis/fascists they could be hiding it to be electable.

[projectazorian]

Fascists tend to downplay that part of their ideology until they're in power. Even the Nazis did this to some extent.