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Thread: What is fascism?

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    Senior Member Wind's Avatar
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    What is fascism?


    Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR4CLtUHD6g


    "Fascism is a controversial topic. What I hope to have presented here is, however, a nonpartisan description of generic fascism based on authoritative academic sources and the general consensus among these sources. These sources are listed in the video’s description.

    This video exists to provide a framework for understanding and identifying fascist movements (and the situations in which they thrive). It is not a narrative history of fascist philosophy. It is not a critique on any current political movements.

    There is a correction I'd like to make for this video: The historian George Mosse came up with the idea of 'mood' as driving fascism, but it was Robert Paxton (not Mosse) who authored the original mobilizing passions.

    Economics of Fascism

    There is some disagreement amongst scholars on whether fascism has a recognizable economic system. The sources used in making this video unanimously agree that fascism has no such system, and that various fascist leaders did not work towards a common economic goal. Some scholars, additionally, argue that fascism is characterized by an lack of economic goals entirely. I have listed sources on screen during this video to substantiate certain economic descriptions, because this topic specifically is liable to some disagreement.

    Totalitarianism as the Goal of Fascism

    Fascism’s unifying aim is not a totalitarian system. No fascist regime has ever put forth a cohesive, complex enough plan to enact complete totalitarianism. Even Nazi germany is not widely recognized as totalitarian by political historians.

    Nazis as fascists

    The widespread scholarly consensus is that National Socialists were fascist. In recent years, there has been a movement saying that the Nazis were not fascist. I do not personally agree with this movement, and nor do the vast majority of academic sources I’ve found. If you would like to learn more about this, I suggest Ryan Chapman's video on the subject: The Nazis Weren't Fascist?"


    Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gfYbEk6rBY
    "The more I see, the less I know for sure." ~ John Lennon

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    Senior Member Aragorn's Avatar
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    Source: ratical.org


    The 14 Characteristics of Fascism

    by Lawrence Britt


    Free Inquiry Magazine, 2003


    Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

    The 14 characteristics are:


    01. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

    Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.


    02. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

    Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.


    03. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

    The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists; terrorists; etc.


    04. Supremacy of the Military

    Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.


    05. Rampant Sexism

    The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.


    06. Controlled Mass Media

    Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.


    07. Obsession with National Security

    Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.


    08. Religion and Government are Intertwined

    Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.


    09. Corporate Power is Protected

    The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.


    10. Labor Power is Suppressed

    Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.


    11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

    Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.


    12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

    Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.


    13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

    Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.


    14. Fraudulent Elections

    Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.


    Copyright © 2003 Free Inquiry magazine
    Reprinted for Fair Use Only.


    Source: ratical.org
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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    Senior Member Catsquotl's Avatar
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    Sounds like the devil has gotten a new name.
    When will we start to realize that the dangers of group think meanders across all groups.

    As soon as 3 or more are gathered under a single banner (or my name) etc etc...
    Have a great day today

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    Senior Member Aianawa's Avatar
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    So going by just the controlled media facet, USA and even NZ are facist

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    Senior Member Aragorn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aianawa View Post
    So going by just the controlled media facet, USA and even NZ are facist
    The USA, yes, definitely, albeit covertly, because the average US American believes — or perhaps I should say, "has been taught" — that fascism equals Nazism, and that as long as there are no Germans running around in black uniforms with swastikas on their sleeves, it's not fascism.

    But fascism is a lot wider than Nazism. Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Fulgencio Batista, they were all fascists. And so is Donald Trump. But Trump was open about his political views — even though he refused to call himself a fascist — while the Democrats and the neocons are in denial about it.

    I don't have enough information on New Zealand to be able to form an opinion about whether it's fascist or not, but last I checked, Jacinda — yes, I know she's not in charge anymore — was rather left-wing.
    = DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR =

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    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    The USA, yes, definitely, albeit covertly, because the average US American believes — or perhaps I should say, "has been taught" — that fascism equals Nazism, and that as long as there are no Germans running around in black uniforms with swastikas on their sleeves, it's not fascism.

    But fascism is a lot wider than Nazism. Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Fulgencio Batista, they were all fascists. And so is Donald Trump. But Trump was open about his political views — even though he refused to call himself a fascist — while the Democrats and the neocons are in denial about it.

    I don't have enough information on New Zealand to be able to form an opinion about whether it's fascist or not, but last I checked, Jacinda — yes, I know she's not in charge anymore — was rather left-wing.
    I think he was nuts, but he left the world too early:
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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    Senior Member Aianawa's Avatar
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    It can change though, fast



    Quote Originally posted by Aragorn View Post
    The USA, yes, definitely, albeit covertly, because the average US American believes — or perhaps I should say, "has been taught" — that fascism equals Nazism, and that as long as there are no Germans running around in black uniforms with swastikas on their sleeves, it's not fascism.

    But fascism is a lot wider than Nazism. Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Fulgencio Batista, they were all fascists. And so is Donald Trump. But Trump was open about his political views — even though he refused to call himself a fascist — while the Democrats and the neocons are in denial about it.

    I don't have enough information on New Zealand to be able to form an opinion about whether it's fascist or not, but last I checked, Jacinda — yes, I know she's not in charge anymore — was rather left-wing.
    Jabcinda's replacement without election, is the same one that on live tv said, we will hunt unvaxxed children down soon, many cried, including myself on hearing that, he is a simple puppet now though, similar to biden.

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    Senior Member Emil El Zapato's Avatar
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    that's pretty vicious "we will hunt unvaxxed children down soon". I would sooner see one that 'thinks/reasons" in that fashion gone...period. The world doesn't need such people.
    “El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"

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