Calling ISIS fascists obscures its nature as brand and franchise

Evidence

Badiou and Benn are in agreement about one thing, however: that ISIS can be described as fascists. While this classification is tempting, it obfuscates rather than illuminates the nature of ISIS’s malignancy and its relationship to the current (decadent and doomed) phase of capitalist domination. Badiou is closer when he characterises ISIS as gangsters: they are indeed part gang, part apocalyptic cult, part franchise. If nothing else, ISIS is a slick brand — a brand that is far more effective than anything capital can come up with at the moment in any case. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 2016

Categorization

Category: Contrarian or Surprising Claims