Hmmm..... I'd agree on the political context, but Mulhall's point is their manifestation in violence against migrants & minorities is illegitimate.

But I *do* get your point which is making the case for explanation of the drivers of violence rather than offering a mitigation for such violence.

This is what is behind a lot of commentary about addressing the problems where such violence can be presented as a response.

(which is a long way of saying: fair comment)

I'm going to challenge this line of thinking.

Millions have been seriously hurt by 14 years of #ToryAusterity (or longer nroliberalism). That may be a source of pain, but IMO it is *not* the cause of the violence.

IMO, the violence is caused by rightwing hatemongering towards immigrants accelerated by years of #Tory normalisation of violence (eg "go home" vans, Royal Navy patrolling the channel, Rwanda policy, etc). Also, a bit of anger over GE loss

#HopeNotHate

A lot of it is also driven by the rush to acquire notoriety within the fascist movement. That comes with many perks, not least of which is money. In the UK, if you get arrested and get your photo all over the papers as a fascist street fighter, then fascist sympathisers who're too old to fight will throw cash at you.

It's a profitable grift but it's competitive, so a lot of fascists are out there trying to one-up each other.

I've been wondering about a related thing: not the money aspect, but the extent to which the underlying motivation of each of them is status with the other fighty blokes. I suspect quite a lot.

(I'm part way through reading the book "The Status Game"!)

@TCatInReality @ChrisMayLA6 @pedestrians1st

That's a good question and I think the answer will vary from fascist to fascist, but it's likely to always be at least a part of the answer because fascists love hierarchy.

Is the book good? Should I add it to my already huge reading list?

Actually, a better answer might be:

A lot of fascists are chasing a hollow promise of status, in a sort of Fight Club way. They feel a lack of respect in their lives (which most of us feel, under late capitalism and austerity) and they think that if they go out and act like Real Men they'll get the respect and adultation they think they deserve. No matter how prominent they become, however, they never get what they want, because it was never there for them to get, and this makes them angry.

I'm not a psychologist but I feel there's something Jungian here: they can never assimilate to the archetype, which causes them anxiety, which they project onto others.