The Politics of Resentment: From Brownshirts to ICE
Published: January 26, 2026
Duration: 28:21
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the social and historical roots of the fascist foot soldier. Who are the young men who join paramilitary organizations, and what drives them?
Following the shocking execution of Renée Good by ICE agents in Minnesota, we draw parallels between the modern American far-right and the Nazi Brownshirts (SA) of the 1920s and 30s. We examine how resentment, loss of status, and the "psychological wage" of whiteness fuel the recruitment of disaffected men into forces of state repression.
From the "stab in the b...