WHAT IS FASCISM?
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology defined by a dictatorial leader, forced suppression of opposition, militarism, and a strong belief in a natural social hierarchy. It rose to prominence in 20th-century Europe and is fundamentally opposed to democratic liberalism, communism, and socialism.
Core characteristics of fascism
While different fascist movements throughout history have had their own nuances, historians and scholars have identified several key shared characteristics:
Ultrananationalism and the "rebirth" myth: Fascism emphasizes extreme nationalism, often tied to a "palingenetic" myth of national rebirth. This involves presenting a narrative of the nation's past greatness, claiming it has fallen into a state of decline or decadence, and promising to restore it to glory.
- Authoritarian and dictatorial leadership: Fascist states are typically one-party, totalitarian states with power centralized under a single, charismatic leader. A personality cult is often built around this leader, who is presented as embodying the will of the nation.
- Militarism and violence: Fascism glorifies military power and warfare as a means of national rejuvenation and expansion. Violence is often celebrated as a redemptive or purifying force and is used to suppress opposition and advance national goals.
- Suppression of opposition: Fascist regimes systematically suppress all forms of opposition, including political opponents, dissenters, and minorities. They control the media and use violence and intimidation to eliminate any perceived threats to national unity.
- Scapegoating: Fascist movements commonly use scapegoats to unite the population against a perceived enemy, often blaming specific groups (such as ethnic or racial minorities, immigrants, or political opponents) for the nation's problems.
- Hierarchical social structure: Fascism promotes the idea of an inescapable social hierarchy and views human inequality as natural. It demands that individual interests and rights be subordinated to the perceived good of the nation or race.
- State-directed economy: Fascism operates a dirigiste economy, where the state plays a strong, directive role in economic interventions. While not abolishing private property like communism, it forces cooperation between businesses and workers to serve nationalistic goals and achieve economic self-sufficiency (autarky).
- Key examples in history
- Benito Mussolini's Italy: The term "fascism" comes from the Italian fascio (bundle), referencing the ancient Roman symbol of authority, the fasces. Mussolini founded the National Fascist Party in 1921 and seized power through the March on Rome in 1922.
- Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany: Nazism is a radical, racially-focused variant of fascism that was centered on the concept of Aryan supremacy. The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, rose to power in 1933 and pursued a genocidal and imperialistic agenda.
- Francisco Franco's Spain: With support from fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, Franco's fascist forces defeated a democratically elected government in the Spanish Civil War.
- Evolving interpretations and modern usage
Since World War II, few parties openly use the term "fascist," but it is often used pejoratively by political opponents. The term can be difficult to define precisely, and modern-day movements that draw inspiration from historical fascism are often referred to as "neo-fascist". These movements often use similar tactics, such as extreme nationalism, scapegoating, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
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