Sunday, August 31, 2025

The Mass Psychology of Fascism and Protests in Australia

Reich and the Psychology of Fascism

According to Wilhelm Reich's The Mass Psychology of Fascism, the concept of inferiority is linked to the combined sexual impotency of a culture. This idea posits that a society that suppresses its natural, healthy sexuality becomes prone to fascist and authoritarian ideologies. The resulting sexual repression creates a climate of frustration and psychological distress, which is then redirected outward as aggression, scapegoating, and a desire for control over others. Essentially, a culture that is sexually repressed is psychologically fertile ground for the rise of a fascist movement.


Anti-Immigration Protests in Australia

In Australia, recent anti-immigration protests, organized under the banner "March for Australia," have been attributed to various factors, including concerns over the economy, housing, and cultural identity. The protests have been promoted by groups and individuals with neo-Nazi and far-right ties, who claim that "mass migration" is responsible for issues like the housing crisis, unemployment, and strained infrastructure. While some protesters have cited personal struggles with housing and inflation as reasons for their participation, experts and independent analyses have challenged the notion that immigration is the primary cause of these problems. In fact, some studies show that house prices rose significantly even during periods of low immigration, suggesting that other factors, such as tax policies and a lack of public housing, are more significant drivers of the housing crisis.


The Connection Between Protest and Policy

The concerns voiced by protesters about housing and economic hardship are valid, but the connection drawn between these issues and immigration is a point of contention. The organizers of the protests often employ rhetoric that blames immigrants for complex economic issues, which critics argue is a form of scapegoating. This approach can be seen as a way to channel legitimate frustrations and fears about the economy and cost of living toward a specific group. The Australian government and various community groups have condemned the marches, stating that they are fueled by hate and misinformation and are a threat to the country's multicultural society. This video shows news coverage of the "March for Australia" protests and the violent clashes that occurred in Melbourne between anti-immigration and counter-protesters.

Violent clashes in Melbourne as anti-immigration rallies held across Australia

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