Fascism is a revolutionary11. As in aiming to remake the world and believing that the current system of government and how society works in general must be completely changed. (e.g., rewriting laws and transforming government from the ground up (one of the few traits that fascists share with the radical left)). nationalist22. As in, they think about politics in terms of nations (defined by religion, ethnicity, or race) rather than classes or interest groups. They believe that their nation is the best in the world., anti-liberal, sexist33. Such as believing that there are natural environments for men and not for women (e.g., relegation of women to the world of family and childcare) and that women shouldn’t have or want social power., and violent44. As in viewing violence as good (rather than just useful). (e.g., violence makes men into better men and violent men produce better futures). While other political groups have used violence as a means to an end, violence is the goal for fascists and a major part of their revolutionary ideology. mass political movement on the right-wing.
Conservatives use fascists as a hit squad to do the dirty work66. Street fights, assassinations, and intimidation. their supporters won’t or don’t want to be connected to.77. In times of crisis, the mainstream right-wing looks to fascists as a way to keep the left and center in line. Other times, conservatives discard the fascists once they’ve served their purpose.
Fascists use conservatives to gain momentum and legitimacy. They intentionally blur the differences between their movement and mainstream conservatives.88. Since the 1940s, fascists have tended to stay smaller and form factions inside of bigger right-wing parties.
For fascists, fascism is a community and a force for good99. Hitler didn’t win power advocating for mass murder, he won power by blaming Jewish people and Communists for Germany’s problems and proposed a new national unity based on white, Aryan identity.. Fascism is on the rise throughout the world and it appeals to young men because it claims to be able to improve their lives1010. And it can! Fascist parties in the 1920—1940s materially improved the lives of their followers by reorganizing economies, capitalizing on the improving world economy, and stealing from the people they looked down on.. Being an early party member in Germany and Italy meant job opportunities, government contracts, prestige, and priviledge. Many people wanted to be fascists, fascism was (and is) popular.
As in aiming to remake the world and believing that the current system of government and how society works in general must be completely changed. (e.g., rewriting laws and transforming government from the ground up (one of the few traits that fascists share with the radical left)).↩︎
As in, they think about politics in terms of nations (defined by religion, ethnicity, or race) rather than classes or interest groups. They believe that their nation is the best in the world.↩︎
Such as believing that there are natural environments for men and not for women (e.g., relegation of women to the world of family and childcare) and that women shouldn’t have or want social power.↩︎
As in viewing violence as good (rather than just useful). (e.g., violence makes men into better men and violent men produce better futures). While other political groups have used violence as a means to an end, violence is the goal for fascists and a major part of their revolutionary ideology.↩︎
As in being willing to do whatever they believe is necessary to maintain power. This means a combination of normal electoral politics and organizing, and political violence.↩︎
Street fights, assassinations, and intimidation.↩︎
In times of crisis, the mainstream right-wing looks to fascists as a way to keep the left and center in line. Other times, conservatives discard the fascists once they’ve served their purpose.↩︎
Since the 1940s, fascists have tended to stay smaller and form factions inside of bigger right-wing parties.↩︎
Hitler didn’t win power advocating for mass murder, he won power by blaming Jewish people and Communists for Germany’s problems and proposed a new national unity based on white, Aryan identity.↩︎
And it can! Fascist parties in the 1920—1940s materially improved the lives of their followers by reorganizing economies, capitalizing on the improving world economy, and stealing from the people they looked down on.↩︎