Fundamentals of Fascism

 

The Mythic Past

The idea of "in the past, we were great"   The greatness is typically attached to military strength. 

Propaganda 

Fascist propaganda is based on a friend/enemy outlook.  The "enemy" is portrayed to be a threat to your traditions and values, even you life.  

Anti-Intellectualism 

The leader decides what is true and false. Expertise, science, and critical thought challenge the authority of the leader.  The teaching of history is a threat to the fascist leader. 

Unreality

Equality requires truth. Fascism requires believing lies. 

Hierarchy

The big lie at the center. Making people frightened to lose their position on the hierarchy is a common tactic. 

Victimhood 

Once people are arranged into a hierarchy, equality is made to look like an attack. 

Law and Order

Does not mean justice!  It structures who's legitimate and who's not.  

Sodom and Gomorrah 

The urban and rural divide.  The idea that cities are of decadence and that the hard work comes from rural people. 

Work Shall Make You Free    

The idea that the minority is lazy by nature. Hard work is a virtue. 


When these things are all happening, we need to worry about Fascism.  We need to worry about Fascism. 



Source:  Jason Stanley Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, author of How Fascism Works and How Propaganda Works, and youtube's  Big Think

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