Fascism -- the fourteen elements common to all of them

[Heyo]

#4 Military supremacy is not such an issue

The US is leading in military spending. The US military budget is bigger than the next 10 countries combined.

 

[Heyo]

So by definition, commies cannot be "fascist",
despite their regimes being fascist...according
to common dictionary definitions...
Definition of fascism | Dictionary.com
Definition of FASCISM
I sense convenience.

Fascism is a subset of authoritarianism, as is what was/is practised in "communist" regimes. They share many trades and differ in others.
E.g. fascism = suppression of unions, communism = use of (state controlled) unions.

 

[Martin]

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to 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.

7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. 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.

9. 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.

This article was based upon the article "The Hallmarks of Fascist Regime" by Skip Stone, at www.hippy.com/php/article-226.html.

There's something very familiar about all that.

 

[exchemist]

Aren't the artists and intellectuals always the first to be rounded up -- especially if they're (insert scapegoated minority)?

Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

Intellectuals have always been feared by tyrants, or would-be tyrants.

 

[Valjean]

There's something very familiar about all that.

The 14 points have been posted in RF several times in the past.

 

[stvdv]

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to 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.

7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. 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.

9. 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.

This article was based upon the article "The Hallmarks of Fascist Regime" by Skip Stone, at www.hippy.com/php/article-226.html.

Some countries tick quite a few boxes here
Maybe IF they don't tick 14 boxes it's not defined/called fascism
But still not a country I would like to live in

I don't care much about labels like fascism, autoritarian
IF countries tick quite a few boxes THEN I would vote against

 

[Twilight Hue]

Fascism is a subset of authoritarianism, as is what was/is practised in "communist" regimes. They share many trades and differ in others.
E.g. fascism = suppression of unions, communism = use of (state controlled) unions.

And all Biden talks about is unions. Writing on the wall what he's planning.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

So by definition, commies cannot be "fascist",
despite their regimes being fascist...according
to common dictionary definitions...
Definition of fascism | Dictionary.com
Definition of FASCISM
I sense convenience.

Well, apparently there are other definitions. For example, from Wikipedia:

"Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism[1][2] characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy[3] which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.[4] The first fascist movements emerged in Italy during World War I, before spreading to other European countries.[4] Opposed to liberalism, democracy, Marxism, and anarchism, fascism is placed on the far right within the traditional left–right spectrum."

 

[Brickjectivity]

The US is leading in military spending. The US military budget is bigger than the next 10 countries combined.

Yet it is a smaller proportion of our gdp then they spend. They spend a lot of their GDP. We spend maybe 3%. It doesn't dominate our country like it does theirs.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

The 14 points have been posted in RF several times in the past.

Sorry, didn't even realize that.

 

[Revoltingest]

"The phrase right-wing in right-wing authoritarianism does not necessarily refer to someone's specific political beliefs, but to his general preference vis-à-vis social equality and hierarchy."

The "doesn't necessarily refer to" makes it vague.
So I'll stick to fascism being broader than the OP claims.

 

[Revoltingest]

Fascism is a subset of authoritarianism, as is what was/is practised in "communist" regimes. They share many trades and differ in others.
E.g. fascism = suppression of unions, communism = use of (state controlled) unions.

That is one way of defining it.
But not the only one.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not for the Lenin-Stalin eras. Labour wasn't repressed, corporate interests were. Was a bastion of progress for women's representation in politics as well.

Women played major political rolls in the USSR?

 

[Valjean]

Sorry, didn't even realize that.

People need to be reminded of the symptoms periodically, lest they forget and descend into fascism all unawares.

 

[Heyo]

Yet it is a smaller proportion of our gdp then they spend. They spend a lot of their GDP. We spend maybe 3%. It doesn't dominate our country like it does theirs.

The Militarized Budget 2020
List of countries by GDP (nominal) - Wikipedia

So, no, the combined GDP of the next ten military spenders is about double that of the US. Military spending not only grossly dominates the national budget, it is also double of that of the next ten countries in percentage of GDP.

 

[Heyo]

That is one way of defining it.
But not the only one.

That is a way of defining it so that right-wing authoritarianism doesn't get confused with left-wing authoritarianism.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Authoritarianism is Authoritarianism...it is centralized control of the economy and social spheres of society for the benefit of the ruling group or groups. RWA and LWA (and centrist authoritarianism, if there be such a thing) have much more in common with each other than differences between them. The main differences appear to be primarily theoretical and not practical in application.

 

[Revoltingest]

That is a way of defining it so that right-wing authoritarianism doesn't get confused with left-wing authoritarianism.

Meh...fascists are fascists.
If words are being manipulated to demonize
one to the exclusion of the other, my eyes roll.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Not for the Lenin-Stalin eras. Labour wasn't repressed, corporate interests were. Was a bastion of progress for women's representation in politics as well.

I would disagree: free labor groups were repressed, and a state system of sanctioned labor was created. Corporate interests were transferred to the various production ministries and bureaucracies of the government. And while on paper things looked good for women and minorities, in practice they remained second-class citizens.

 

[Heyo]

Women played major political rolls in the USSR?

The Role of Women in Soviet Russia | Guided History

There was, however, still a glass ceiling when it came to top political power - just like in the west.