https://www.readings.com.au/product/978 ... 0520392496
I read this book on the weekend, it's really good. As the title suggests, the author identifies a group of people that inhabit some weird halfway world between populism and fascism, and designates them 'wannabe fascists.' Modi, Erdogen, Bolsenaro and Oban are in this group, and most certainly Trump. What holds them back is that they still run, at least partially free elections and use them as justification for their dictates. Their rhetoric generally exceeds their actions and none of them claim to be a dictator. The case of Modi is a good highlight, he (his party) lost control of the parliament in the most recent election and yet he hasn't abolished democracy, so he'd be a wannabe fascist. Trump is running on a wannabe fascist set of policies and rhetoric but he has slipped into the full blown fascist domain with his remark that this would be the last election. (The thesis is more complex than this but that's a surface level summary).
My feeling is that Trump will go full fascist dictator if he wins because...why not. And unlike other wannabe fascists Trump has this weird religious dimension supporting him that makes him some kind of divine historically destined savior, otherworldly. He has absolutely all the makings of a dictator and he's a fascist - racist, misogynist, militaristic - and he loathes democracy.
Anyhow, a good read.
