Origins of 'microfascism' in Guattari and Foucault

Jack Z. Bratich chats about the concept of "microfascism," a term coined by Deleuze as part of their project of tracing “the genealogy and the permanence of certain fascist machineries” in order “to refuse to allow any fascist formula to slip by, on whatever scale it may manifest itself, including within the scale of the family or even within our own personal economy." Happy Thanksiving!

The concept suggests that fascist impulses don't just come from "above" (authoritarian leaders) but can emerge from "below" in how people treat each other daily. Deleuze and Guattari believed everyone has some "fascist" potential—desires for domination, control, or submission. Bratich's work looks at the idea in the current context of MAGA, stochastic terrorism, and the manosphere.

Buy his book On Microfascism: Gender, War, Death and Conspiracy Panics: Political Rationality and Popular Culture from Common Notions.

3WF interview: https://threewayfight.org/antifascism-in-2025-shane-burley-interviews-xtn-alexander-and-matthew-n-lyons/

Klaus Theweleit's Male Fantasies: https://monoskop.org/images/5/54/Theweleit_Klaus_Male_Fantasies_Vol_1_Women_Floods_Bodies_History.pdf

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