More on the F-word

In the new issue of Adbusters, James MacKinnon interviews Princeton professor emeritus Richard Falk on "The Early Signs of Fascism." Defining fascism as "the convergence of military and economic power on behalf of an ultranationalist ideology that views its enemies - internally and externally - as evil and subject to extermination or extreme punishment," Falk describes one of the harbingers of fascism's rise:

A disillusionment with representative democracy as a path to change. For example, if the Democratic Party in the United States doesn't elect a candidate who will challenge these policies, I think it would lead an increasing number of people to become disenchanted with normal politics and be more inclined to feel that the only way change can come about is by more extreme political tactics, which in turn would lead the government to feel justified in expanding its powers of control over the citizenry.

On a personal note, I've got two pieces in the July/August issue that are currently unavailable online, a conversation with Siva Vaidhyanathan and an update on ad-creep in the music industry. Buy onlineor pick up a newsstand copy and support a one-of-a-kind publication. (And me.)