Shadows of the Republic: The Rebirth of Fascism in America and How to Defeat It for Good
By Omer Aziz
Broadleaf Books, 304 pages
Published April 28, 2026
Modern fascism in America is nothing new. Journalist and lawyer Omer Aziz makes a compelling case that “virulent nationalism” began spreading around 2009 as a backlash against our first Black president and has only grown since. Shadows of the Republic offers a comprehensive look at America’s fascist roots and a helpful guide for those asking, “How did we get here?”
“Fascism is an old idea with a modern face,” Aziz explains, “one intensely focused on the future, on technology, modernity, and the violent purification of society.” He painstakingly traces the path: modern “power pagans” (wealthy business leaders who align with whichever party suits their interests) are the new oligarchs, and the political spectacle (whether in D.C. or at rallies on college campuses) harkens back to the pro-Nazi rallies of the 1930s, the largest of which drew over 20,000 Americans to Madison Square Garden in 1939. When Germany’s Third Reich sought to create a superior “Aryan” race, it drew inspiration from America’s race legislation, Jim Crow laws and its track record of eliminating Indigenous peoples. It seems we have returned to our roots.
Shadows of the Republic is a compelling read that culminates in a brief “playbook” for fighting back, primarily through communal action at the local level — perfect for faith leaders. While this is not an explicitly religious work, Aziz notes that 28% of Americans are religiously unaffiliated. He concludes, “there is a human core that the churches and schools and secular culture is not reaching. America – and the West – is spiritually adrift.” Reaching the human core is what Christians are called to do; perhaps this is the church’s call to action.
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