12 Rules For WHAT

Veteran guest Dave Renton joins the show to discuss the long history of the Socialist Workers Party and antifascism in the UK. We discuss the sexual assault crisis of 2013, its ongoing fallout, how the SWP has such influence over UK antifascism and more. Support episodes via our patreon, patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

Today we are joined by writer Richard Seymour to discuss last Saturday's Unite the Kingdom rally, the largest far right rally in British history. We disucss why it was so big, the anti migrant racism of the mainstream, the yankification of the British far right, Tommy Robinson, how we can oppose his movement and more. Support the show: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Check out Richard's book here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3147-disaster-nationalism Read Richard's take on the rally: https://www.patreon.com/posts/i-heard-you-want-138879347

Recently, the protest group Palestine Action was proscribed by the Labour government under counter terror legislation putting the group in the same category as Al Quaida, ISIS and National Action. This is stunning attack on the right to protest and will have wider implications for the palestine solidarity movement, and other movements that sometimes break the law in pursuing their political goals – which we should remember has a long history in UK protest movements. On the surface this seems to be outside the remit of this podcast, so why are we covering this? For one thing the British state has used the proscription of far right and fascist groups to give a veneer of acceptability this action. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, proscribed two far right groups alongside Palestine Action. But also there is a more fundamental issue here. We cannot divorce the actions and policies of far right governments from those of their liberal democratic counter parts. The British state continues to send fighter jet parts to the Israeli regime, which is committing a genocide. It is also running surveillance missions over Gaza from its base in Cyprus. In addition, Labour has chased Reform in its policy and rhetoric towards migrants. It was only a few months ago that Starmer echoed Enoch Powell in his island of strangers speech. Far right governments usually use existing laws and powers to push an authoritarian agenda. You can see this particularly in the United States of America, where Trump cites hundreds year old insurrection laws and alien enemies acts in order to further his mass deportation campaign. It is not hard to see a far right government in this country to use the proscription of PA to go after climate justice or civil rights movements. With that being said, today I'm talking to Iida Kayhko about proscription, counter terror and more, on with the show! Support the show on patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Iida's article in Race and Class: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03063968251323166

Kier Starmer's Powelite rhetoric last week shocked many in his party and on the left. Yet it fitrs into a long history of labour racism and racist border policies. Writer Michael Richmond joins the show to discuss all of this, the function of state race relations iniatives, the echoes of the August racist riots and more. Michael Richmond is the co author of two books: Fractured: Race, Class, Gender and the Hatred of Idenity Politics and Fascism and the Women's Cause. Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

Author and historian Pádraig Ó Ruairc joins the show to discuss his new book, Burn Them Out: A History of Fascism and the Far Right in Ireland. We discuss Ireland's complicated political situation post war of independence, the rise of the Blueshirts and their leader Eoin O'Duffy, how FIne Gael reckons (or doesn't reckon) with its fascist origins and much more! Buy Pádraig's book from your local independent bookshop or buy directly from the publisher here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/burn-them-out-9781035915279/ Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

This week Alex is joined by author Lois Shearing to discuss their new book Pink Pilled: Women and the Far Right. We discuss women's precarious positions within online fascists spaces, how gender motivates far right politics today, how the emptiness of liberal feminism can be exploited and more. The interview was conducted before Pink Pilled came out, you can now buy it via University of Manchester Press or bookshops everywhere. Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Red Flare fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-antifascist-investigations-in-britain

Sam (now known by his real name, Youtube personality Richard Hames) comes back on the show to mark the the release of a new Spanish edition of The Rise of Ecofascism. We cover some of the things in the new preface of the book, reflect on the state of the world in the age of Musk and speculate about where all this is heading. Support the show: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Check out Richard's course: https://crudefutures.substack.com/p/im-teaching-an-online-course-on-collapse Spanish edition of the book here: https://levantafuego.com/producto/baterias-bombas-y-fronteras/

We round up the key far right stories in 2024, discussing Tommy Robinson's incarceration, the fortunes of Homeland and PA and the absolute and total shutdown of the Traditional Britain Group xmas social. Final news, in early 2025 we will be moving to be hosted by anti-fascist researchers Red Flare! Look out soon for details of where you can find our content

For our 100th episode (!) we are joined by two member of the It's Going Down collective to discuss Trunp and the American election. We discuss the racist lies of the Trump campaign, why American fascism goes unchallenged during the Biden presidency, prospects for future resistance and more.

Its been quite a month in the UK. This episode I cover the UK race riots, featuring an interview I did with US podcast It's Going Down. Discussing the post organisational nature of the UK far right, how the EDL doesn't exist, the state's response to the riots and more. This show is part of the channel zerio network. Listen to all the shows at channelzeronetwork.com Support the show at patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

Aurhor and researcher Spencer Sunshine joins the show to discuss all things Seige. We discuss James Mason's obsession with Charlies Manson, how fringe art scenes championed his work, the rebirth of Seige on nazi Telegram channels and have some out of date takes on the Trump assassination attempt. Support the show: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Support Spencer's work:https://www.patreon.com/spencersunshine

Today journalist and activist Dmitry Okrest joins the show to discuss a new book on Russian antifascist Socrates. We talk about Socrate's political activism, the repression he experienced from the Russian State, the Network and Tyumen cases and much more. Support the show: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Link to the book: https://www.activedistributionshop.org/product/socrates-the-skinhead-the-life-of-a-russian-anarchist-preorder/ The Tyumen case: https://libcom.org/article/what-known-about-new-terrorism-case-against-antifascists-tyumen Link to RTP Books: https://linktr.ee/rtpbooks Dmitry's podcast:https://www.instagram.com/publicincitement/

We're back and joined by researcher and activist Adrien Wilkins to discuss the history of antifascism in Norway. We discuss the tactics of both fascists and anti-fascists, the pitfalls of counter-extremism, why bomb throwing was such a big thing for the Norwegian fascist movement and much more. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

In the late 1980s millitant anti-fascists started a cultural project, Cable Street Beat, to counter the rise of a violent fascist music scene which was attacking left wing gigs and attempting to attract a disaffected youth. For this episode reseacher Alex Cater joins to show to discuss the effort. Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat If you were involved in CSB or other cultural anti-fascist projects Alex would like to hear from you. Get in touch with the show or via his article in The Conversation. Conversation article: https://theconversation.com/through-cable-street-beat-music-became-a-potent-antifascist-weapon-against-the-far-right-221060

We are joined by author David Renton to discuss the far right in Israel, we cover the Israeli government's links to the international far right, the influence of the Kahanist movement, how Israel's government has conducted the assault on Gaza and more. Support us on patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat We are part of the Channel Zero network of anarchist podcasts, check out other shows at channelzeronetwork.com

Today we are joined by Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, activist for People Before Profit in North Dublin to discuss November's race riots, the far right in Ireland and how the anti-fascist Irish left are fighting back and supporting migrant solidarity efforts. Follow us on instagram @12rulesforwhat Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Eoghan is also a musician, check him out on spotify or other platforms, he's good!

Today we are joined by writer and researcher Anthony Faramelli to discuss his work on the concept of microfascism and the nature of fascist desire. We discuss how algorithmic structures feed radicalisation, how we can intervene if someone is radicalised online, the anti-fascism of the Zapatistas and much more!

In the aftermath of the far right violence seen on armistice day, in which mob fought with police and carried out attacks on the massive Palestine demonstration we discuss what it could mean, analyse where the movement comes from, assess its potential and discuss policing on the day. Support us on patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Follow us on Instagram and twitter: @12rulesforwhat

Today historian and activist Louise Hann joins the show to discuss the reprint of a new edition of Physical Resistance: 100 years of antifascism by Dave Hann. We talk about what physical resistance really means, the use of history for antifascists today. Dave Hann's process for writing the book and more! To support the show, and get some extra bonus content for this episode, subscribe at patreon.com/12rulesforwhat

This week I'm joined by legal observer Andy Meinke of : court support group Activist Court Aid Brigade to discuss new restrictions in UK protest law, the vagaries of conspiracy, the difficulties of legal observing a antifascist protest and much more. Support the show on patreon: patreon.com/12rulesforwhat Follow the instagram and twitter @12rulesforwhat Check out the Green and Black Cross https://greenandblackcross.org/