How to Defeat the Far Right
Lessons from Hope Not Hate
Published on 25. September 2025
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-00-877297-0 (ISBN)
Description
'A brilliant and challenging book' GORDON BROWN
From the founder of Britain's leading antifascist organisation, HOPE not hate, this is an urgent call to resist the forces of extremism on the march in Western societies - and how to go about it.
If you're shocked and disconcerted by the rise of intolerance and hate, you're not alone.
Drawing from 35 years of campaigning and journalism, Nick Lowles shows how anti-immigration, antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks have proliferated in the modern world, and how Britain - with the likes of Tommy Robinson and the growth of Reform UK - has been far from immune from far-right politics.
From HOPE not hate's pioneering campaigns against the BNP in east London to the impact of the 'manosphere' and the issues in Netflix's Adolescence; from explorations of the pernicious influence of 'race science' and conspiracy theory to the interplay of deprivation and intolerance in Britain's deindustrialised towns, Lowles entwines his inspirational story with hard-won lessons from decades of activism.
His conclusions - which do not shy away from awkward truths for campaigners - suggest practical ways for the far right to be defeated. And he shares powerful examples - from a participant-led youth club in Hull to Syrian refugees connecting with local people over falafel in Bradford - of finding the joy in showing that, hard as it can seem, HOPE can triumph over hate.
From the founder of Britain's leading antifascist organisation, HOPE not hate, this is an urgent call to resist the forces of extremism on the march in Western societies - and how to go about it.
If you're shocked and disconcerted by the rise of intolerance and hate, you're not alone.
Drawing from 35 years of campaigning and journalism, Nick Lowles shows how anti-immigration, antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks have proliferated in the modern world, and how Britain - with the likes of Tommy Robinson and the growth of Reform UK - has been far from immune from far-right politics.
From HOPE not hate's pioneering campaigns against the BNP in east London to the impact of the 'manosphere' and the issues in Netflix's Adolescence; from explorations of the pernicious influence of 'race science' and conspiracy theory to the interplay of deprivation and intolerance in Britain's deindustrialised towns, Lowles entwines his inspirational story with hard-won lessons from decades of activism.
His conclusions - which do not shy away from awkward truths for campaigners - suggest practical ways for the far right to be defeated. And he shares powerful examples - from a participant-led youth club in Hull to Syrian refugees connecting with local people over falafel in Bradford - of finding the joy in showing that, hard as it can seem, HOPE can triumph over hate.
Reviews / Votes
'A brilliant and challenging book with very insightful analysis that not only gets to the heart of what's led to the rise of the far right, but is original in its plan for how to combat this new extremism.' Gordon Brown'Lowles's memoir-cum-manual ... is a troubling read.' Guardian
'Lowles' prescription against the far right is: better democracy, stronger democratic institutions, and reversing the loss of social capital at the grassroots. He is surely correct.' Jewish Chronicle
'One of the must read-iest of the must-reads on tackling the far right in the UK today.' Shortlist
'At turns inspiring, hopeful, and alarming.' The New World
'Nick Lowles delivers a powerful and timely warning: when economic hope disappears, intolerance takes its place. But he also reminds us that when we come together across our differences we can win real, positive change.' Paul Nowak, General Secretary TUC
'There are few people who understand better than Nick what is going on within the well-organised groups that seek to undermine our social fabric. And crucially he discusses what must be done about it.' Alison Phillips, former Daily Mirror editor
'The work of HOPE not hate is so vital. The lessons about what works in fighting hate are so well set out by Nick Lowles in this brilliant book. His findings are rightly challenging, but they must not be ignored.' Enver Solomon, CEO Refugee Council
'Nick Lowles has been at the coalface of fighting hate in all its forms for decades. No one else has more knowledge or expertise in how to defeat hatred. An essential read.' Akeela Ahmed, CEO of British Muslim Network
'There is no one in Britain today who better understands the threat of the Far Right, the rise of Reform UK, and how to bring our communities and country back together.' Ros Wynne-Jones, Daily Mirror
'A source of hope and inspiration.' Paul Mason
'Hnh's work is indispensable.' Angela Saini
'Brilliant.' Adam Bienkov
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
520 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-877297-0 (9780008772970)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
04/2026
HarperNorth
€14.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
09/2025
HarperCollins
€7.79
Available for download
Person
Nick Lowles MBE is the founder and Chief Executive of HOPE Not Hate, an advocacy group based in the United Kingdom which campaigns against racism and fascism and emerged from the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight. Nick's mum arrived from Mauritius in 1961 and he grew up in Hounslow before the family moved to Shrewsbury at the age of 10. Having experienced street racism as a child, Lowles got involved with the anti-fascist movement as a student volunteer at Sheffield University. He was previously a freelance investigative journalist, working in television, including on BBC Panorama, World in Action, Channel Four Dispatches and MacIntyre Undercover. Between 1999 and 2011 Lowles was co-editor, and then editor, of Searchlight magazine. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for his services in tackling extremism. He can be found on X as @lowles_nick