Finding who we are in the face of a fascist regime designed to break our spirit is a battle that we are fighting on all fronts. The seeds of discord between ourselves and people with opposing views are more tense than ever before. How can we protect our energy in this chaotic world, marked by injustice and upheaval? Joy is the answer. Though I have not yet finished the book myself, a major inspiration for this article was Tricia Hersey's Rest Is Resistance.
Fascism and systemic oppression thrive by keeping populations isolated, exhausted, and consumed by fear (Hersey, 2022). Under these conditions, the pursuit of joy and the deliberate cultivation of community are not frivolous diversions; they are radical forms of political resistance (Hersey, 2022). Fascist systems and late-stage capitalism function through the commodification of human life and the promotion of a toxic individualism (Hersey, 2022). By actively choosing joy and collective bonding, individuals disrupt this machinery, reclaim their humanity, and secure the emotional resources needed to survive political upheaval (Hersey, 2022).
From a psychological perspective, cultivating positive emotions, such as joy, is essential for navigating traumatic events and political crises (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). According to the "broaden-and-build" theory, experiencing positive emotions expands an individual's scope of thought and action, allowing for more flexible and creative responses to adversity (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). While oppressive regimes rely on keeping citizens in a narrowed, survival-oriented "fight or flight" state, joy generates the psychological flexibility necessary to "bounce back" from distress (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). In this context, infusing daily life with positive meaning becomes a subversive act of emotional regulation that prevents psychological collapse during extended periods of trauma (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). Reclaiming joy is thus a deliberate survival tactic; as Hersey (2022) notes, marginalized groups have long navigated systemic terror by insisting that joy is a birthright and pleasure is a healing balm.
Furthermore, fascist systems maintain control by promoting an ethos of toxic individualism that leads directly to exhaustion and death (Hersey, 2022). Collective community bonding dismantles this isolation, requiring radical community care and a profound recognition of our interconnectedness (Hersey, 2022). As bell hooks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized, true liberation acknowledges that humanity is tied in a "single garment of destiny," where mutual giving and shared resources strengthen the community against oppression (Hersey, 2022). By standing in the gaps for one another and establishing networks of mutual aid, communities can weather political and systemic "winters" (Hersey, 2022; May, 2020). May (2020) argues that during periods of profound hardship, our mutual vulnerability and need for care become a vital "social glue" that binds us together, proving that humanity flourishes through connection rather than isolated striving.
This collective joy actively manifests in the creation of alternative realities within oppressive states (Hersey, 2022). Historically, oppressed groups, such as the American maroons who escaped chattel slavery, survived by forging a "Third Space" — a secluded community characterized by joy, freedom, and mutual protection that existed entirely outside the dominant culture's control (Hersey, 2022). Today, prioritizing communal gatherings, shared leisure, and mutual care serves a similar purpose, allowing citizens to build a liberated world in the present moment by rejecting the state's demand for endless obedience (Hersey, 2022).
Ultimately, joy and community bonding serve as powerful counternarratives to fascism (Hersey, 2022). By intentionally sharing resources, nurturing positive emotions, and fostering deep social ties, people build the critical resilience required to endure political winters (May, 2020; Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). Reclaiming joy and prioritizing collective care are radical declarations that human bodies and spirits belong to the community, not the oppressive state, thereby sustaining the ultimate fight for liberation (Hersey, 2022).
References
Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Schweizer, S. (2010). Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(2), 217-237.
May, K. (2020). Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. Penguin.
Naragon-Gainey, K., McMahon, T. P., & Chacko, T. P. (2017). The structure of common emotion regulation strategies: A meta-analytic examination. Psychological Bulletin, 143(4), 384.
Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2007). Regulation of positive emotions: Emotion regulation strategies that promote resilience. Journal of Happiness Studies, 8(3), 311-333.