The 2016 US presidential election exposed rising xenophobic and nationalist sentiment within the United States and other democratic countries. As populist movements grow, democratic freedoms erode. We Resist demonstrates that the things we often take for granted - safety, family, employment, health, a promising future - are under attack, and we must fight to preserve these resources before it's too late. We are currently witnessing the dismantlement of social programs, growing disinterest in international cooperation, and the devaluation of evidence-based knowledge. This disturbing shift in politics is leading to increased national security measures, violations to basic human rights, and widening social and economic inequalities. The rise of far-right populism brings with it intolerance of ethnic, sexual, and all other minority groups, and a rejection of democratic society. We Resist gathers the compelling perspectives of scholars and activists who are deeply embedded within political and community struggles, who participate in policy decisions, and who are engaged in research that advances those struggles. An essential and timely book, We Resist confronts the problems we face as a human community and impels a cross-sectoral movement to defend our rights and revitalize the common good.

Cynthia Levine-Rasky is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Queen’s University. She is the co-author of Spectrum of the Blue Water: Romani Women in Canada (2016, Inanna Publications). She lives in Toronto.

Cynthia Levine-Rasky's profile page

Lisa Kowalchuk is professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph.

Lisa Kowalchuk's profile page

"We Resist is engaged in the most pressing issues of our time. This book provides a rare and powerful mix of academic and activist voices, including many of the leading lights of the Canadian left." Tom Malleson, King's University College at Western University, and author of Fired Up about Capitalism

"A compelling and comprehensive primer on inequity in theory and practice." CAUT Bulletin

"Into a world of bully-boy heads of state and the rise of xenophobic right-wing populism comes this important collection reminding us that the common good is still attainable, if fragile. It depends on our ability to work collectively, to build community, and to cherish our diversity, always advocating for human rights, respect, and dignity." Maude Barlow, chairperson for the Council of Canadians and author of Boiling Point: Government Neglect, Corporate Abuse, and Canada's Water Crisis