Understanding Fascism

Understanding Fascism is a collection of analytical essays that examine the structural roots of authoritarianism, state power, and democratic struggles in India. Authored by the noted civil rights activist and thinker K. Balagopal, these writings remain highly relevant for understanding the ongoing challenges within the justice system and public policy implementation.

The book highlights how authoritarian tendencies are immanent in the dominance of national projects controlled by hegemonic classes and castes. Balagopal meticulously explores how elite groups exploit regional contradictions and cultivate a repository of social contempt against shifting targets—including religious minorities, workers, civil rights activists, political dissenters, Dalits, Adivasis, and protesting women.

Through a sharp intersectional lens, the volume demonstrates how the specific alchemy between caste, class, and the State creates a uniquely Indian manifestation of fascism. Featuring an insightful perspective by Arundhati Roy, this book serves as a fine, courageous, and honest critique of the social realities that contemporary politics often turns away from.