How to Do Things with Words: Antifascism as a Differentially Mobilizing Ideology, from the Popular Front to the Black Power Movement.

This article examines antifascism as a differentially mobilizing ideology from the 1930s through the 1970s, focusing on two intertwined but often competing strands: Popular Front antifascism, rooted in Western European communist parties and emphasizing broad coalition-building against fascism within nation-states; and anti-imperial antifascism, led by activists of color who linked fascism intrinsically to imperialism and racism and maintained strong transnational ties with anti-colonial movements in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. While Popular Front antifascism prioritized national reconstruction and political compromise, especially after World War II, anti-imperial antifascism persisted as a critical language of resistance, influencing movements such as the Black Power movement and the Black Panther Party, which emphasized revolutionary change and highlighted U.S. imperialism. By the 1970s, these two antifascist cultures diverged sharply, with Popular Frontists embracing Eurocommunism and coalition politics focused on defending democracy within Europe, often sidelining anti-imperial concerns, whereas anti-imperial antifascists adopted more radical, sometimes militant stances against racism, imperialism, and state power. The article argues that understanding antifascism requires recognizing these plural and sometimes conflicting traditions, as well as their global interconnections and evolving political contexts.