Fascism in the Modern Age- Reply
Originally posted by msbowlesfan on December 03, 2024 16:13
Fascism manifests in a society due to certain circumstances like political chaos and a powerful leader who is able to manipulate that disorder. It develops because an enemy is established by the leaders and they use the threat of that enemy to make fascism more appealing. In the specific example of the Nazis in Germany, the process was more manipulative, Hitler wasn’t seen as a threat so he was able to incrementally gain power until he had full authoritative control. Diving more specifically into Hitler’s psyche, there was obviously resentment against other European powers from when he served in WWI and his hatred towards Jews. But when exploring potential reasons for his actions, Bob Altmeyer speculates that “a child imitates the attitudes and harsh disciplinary practices of his parents with his own children” (The Psychology of Fascism: Wilhelm Reich Et Al). Hitler did have a harsh childhood, with his mother dying and his father being abusive, and while that traumatic past can’t in any way justify his actions, it gives a deeper understanding for why he did them. Nowadays it would be more difficult to create a fascist society because of the negative connotations associated with the term, so more people would be aware of the signs and have a stronger reaction to it. It’s also more widely known and certain elements like propaganda wouldn’t work as well because most people have access to other sources of news and information due to the internet. The characteristics that must be present in a fascist society are an authoritarian right wing government and the establishment of an enemy. By using the threat of an enemy, a fascist regime is able to be established by giving more power to the authoritarian government to combat that enemy. Then the government uses their power to manipulate the population through propaganda and passing laws that strip them of their rights as humans, for example freedom of speech and press. With no one to speak up against the false media that they are presenting, most people will just conform to the majority or not express their real views out of fear of being isolated and punished. All other characteristics of fascist societies stem from these two principal elements. People initially found the nationalistic views of fascism very appealing. The Germans were economically destroyed and nationally shamed after the first war, so when Hitler emerged preaching that the German race was the most superior to all other European races, they were in full support. They wanted revenge against the European powers for blaming them for the first world war. While there aren’t really any nations that could be considered neo fascist, there are nations that demonstrate fascist tendencies such as a very right wing government, suppression of human rights, and authoritarian control. An example of this could be the United States, even though we are a democratic nation, the recent election shows a favoritism towards right wing policies and new laws that take away human rights, such as Roe vs. Wade.
Hello msbowlesfan! I just wanted to start by saying I really enjoyed reading your response, I thought it was very interesting to read your take on Facism, and I feel like we take very similar responses. I thought that your essay had very insightful analysis. More specifically, summarizing your main points, you argue that fascism often emerges in times of political chaos, where a manipulative leader can exploit disorder and establish an enemy to unify people under an authoritarian regime. I think within these points, you clearly explain the significance of this characteristic, emphasizing the fundamentals of facism. However, I also found it very interesting that you tied your argument specifically to Nazi Germany, namely the physiological analysis behind Hilter’s action as a dictator. I think tying in previous theories we learned in class, it backs up your argument in a very effective way. You mention that facism is less likely to happen in the near future, because society's shift in a greater consciousness idea that Facism is bad. However, you also mention that big powers have fascist tendencies, referencing the overturning of Roe V. Wade, which emphasizes that regulation. Overall, I think your response is well written, good job!