“Why Did We Destroy Europe?” It’s an arresting title, chosen by Michael Polanyi for a 1970 essay that looks back on the conflagrations that consumed Europe between 1914 and 1945. (The essay can be found in Society, Economics & Philosophy, a posthumous volume of selected papers by . . . . Continue Reading »
It was surreal. President Biden began his State of the Union speech by invoking the Nazi threat. More than eighty years ago, Biden reminded us, Franklin Roosevelt rallied the nation, as “Hitler was on the march,” and “freedom and democracy were under assault.” Today, the president warned, . . . . Continue Reading »
Christians need to talk more about the transcendence of God, which is an immunization from being captured by evil political forces. Continue Reading »
The pope entombed in the crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica on January 5, 2023 was without doubt an extraordinary man.As a friend observed, “We’re not likely to see anyone half as well-educated or a tenth as wise anytime soon.” I think he’s right. Ratzinger was a deeply learned man. . . . . Continue Reading »
In 1938 Franklin Roosevelt, facing a political challenge from a resurgent Republican Party, denounced the party’s “fascist” tendencies. It was an early example of how the term could be applied even to conservatives loyal to the framework of a liberal democracy. One might have expected this . . . . Continue Reading »
Here are two forthcoming books that are worth reading not only for themselves but also for the larger conversations they represent. Continue Reading »
When questioned by reporters whether fascism would come to America, Huey Long allegedly replied: “Of course fascism will come to America, but here we’ll call it antifascism.” In 2020, black-clad “antifa” activists rioted and practiced violence on a scale never imagined by the several . . . . Continue Reading »
Stanley Payne joins editor R. R. Reno to talk about the trajectory of antifascism in twenty-first century America. Continue Reading »
In recent decades, one of the most popular terms of political abuse has been “fascist.” Continue Reading »
Today's riots are the effect of four years of irresponsible exercises in middle-brow hysteria about American democracy giving way to fascism. Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
