Mark Hayes examines the emergence of neo-nazi group National Action in Britain in 2013 and its evolution prior to its proscription by the government in 2016. He goes on to consider the impact such reliance on State mechanisms is having on both far-right and left-wing politics. An additional short essay from 12RulesForWhat is also included in this edition, looking over the mechanics of proscription, and what happened to key players in National Action in the aftermath of the State’s crackdown.
Hayes is Senior Lecturer in Politics and Criminology at Solent University. A former member of Anti-Fascist Action, he has authored multiple works examining the far-right and anti-fascism, including The Ideology of Fascism and the Far Right in Britain in 2014.