Boston, Massachusetts, US
Posts: 6
Why do societies, especially in times of crisis, turn to fascist ideologies? Fascism is based mainly on authoritarianism and nationalism, as well as the rejection of democracy. Throughout history, we have learned that fascism is able to manifest in societies going through times of crisis due to fear and uncertainty. Although it may be difficult for some to see the appeal, it is essential to consider the conditions that give rise to it. Fascism is usually able to manifest in an unstable society. For example, the Weimar Republic after WWI was especially weak due to the economic problems, political instability, and etc. German citizens were dealing with heavy emotions at the time that made them vulnerable, as some felt hopeless and betrayed by their government. This allowed for leaders such as Hitler to rise to power.
The appeal of fascism is that it seems to give solutions to complex problems. It often promises many great things such as a powerful and united nation and most of the time, those goals and ideals are unattainable. However, fascist leaders know how to exploit the society’s circumstances and the vulnerability of the people. In the Weimar Republic, there were severe economic issues, political divides, and a sense of hopelessness after the war. This made it easier for Hitler to come in and offer a solution and because the citizens were in such a difficult situation, they would rather put their problems into the hands of someone else. Many Germans were also afraid of Jewish people being a threat, and Hitler used that to his advantage to gain favor for fascist ideas such as the suppression of Jewish people in order to bring control back to the nation. Fascism offers people a false sense of security and solution.
Although it is difficult to define what is fascism and what isn’t, there are certain characteristics that are commonly found in fascist societies. For example, fascism needs loyalty to a powerful authoritarian leader. This leader serves as a catalyst and influences large groups of people through hyper-nationalism and propaganda. They often rely on propaganda to control large populations, solidify power and create a sense of unity. Propaganda is able to demonize their “enemies” and scapegoat minority groups to justify their extreme control. Scapegoating also ties in with xenophobia which is the fear of foreign influences. This again further emphasizes a sense of unity and belonging for people who are feeling especially vulnerable. Hyper-nationalism is also used to not only glorify the leader, but also to emphasize a return to their glorious past which is often mythical or exaggerated.
It is difficult to define whether a society is fascist or not because the ideology is adaptable and can be looked at case to case depending on many factors such as specific historical or social circumstances. Many argue that there are current nations that are experiencing a neo-fascist era, for example, the United States. It can be argued that the United States is or is close to neo-fascism because of many factors. For example, president Trump has gained a large following of supporters and goes by his popular saying “Make America Great Again” which can be argued to resemble hyper-nationalism when used by his many supporters. He is also known for speaking out against immigrants and minorities by scapegoating them for the issues the U.S. is facing. Others argue that the U.S. should not be labeled Neo-fascist because we lack totalitarian control since we still have many liberties. Additionally, America has many systems set in place such as the constitution that are against these fascist ideas. Some worry that by labeling the United States as neo-fascist, it can oversimplify the meaning of fascism. In the article Does American Fascism Exist? (New Republic), the author states “ Fascism doesn’t land like a thunderbolt; it creeps, enabled by those who dismiss its warning signs as overblown or alarmist”, which highlights the progressive nature of fascism, describing how it is able to take control slowly rather than overnight. This quote again emphasizes how difficult it is to define fascism and decide whether a society is fascist or not. Fascism’s complexity allows for us to discuss uncomfortable questions about our very own democratic systems but it is crucial to recognize any signs and to stay true to our values.
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, US
Posts: 6
Facism in the modern age
Fascism manifests in societies during times of crisis or instability, offering a sense of power and control to those feeling powerless or marginalized. Fascist regimes are characterized by extreme nationalism, unwavering support for a strong central leader, and an obsession with reclaiming a glorified past. These societies often glorify traditional gender roles, militarism, and ethnic identity while suppressing dissent through propaganda, media control, and the identification of scapegoats. Fascism appeals to people initially because it promises order, unity, and superiority, often by creating a hierarchy that elevates certain groups over others. Historical fascist societies emphasize territorial expansion, anti-intellectualism, and the supremacy of the military, often coupled with violence, terror, and a disregard for human rights. Some Historians believed that facism could be combated with rational thought, “The authors of The Authoritarian Personality, both Adorno and Horkheimer, believed that fascist ideology could be countered by rational thought.” (The Psychology of Fascism) While rationality and Fascism rarely go hand in hand, it's extremely difficult to fight facism with logic when intellect and freewill are targeted. While many fascist regimes emerged from democracies, this structure alone does not safeguard a nation from authoritarianism. Today, some nations exhibit neo-fascist tendencies, such as ultranationalism, leader worship, media manipulation, and hostility toward minorities, reflecting the enduring appeal and dangers of fascist ideology. Historical fascism would never be easily accepted in today's society, so it takes on a more sophisticated ideology. The United States, while a democracy, has exhibited some characteristics that align with elements of fascism at various points in its history. Elements such as intense partisanship, propaganda, and targeted discrimination have raised concerns about creeping authoritarianism. It could be argued that the U.S. remains distinct from fascist regimes due to its checks and balances, civil liberties, and the pluralism inherent in its democratic system, but the US has also set up a system where one group is able to control all branches due to the minority rules system. Since one branch of the US government is led by a single individual, the process of electing this leader can be perceived as imbalanced. A presidential candidate doesn’t need to secure a majority to win a nomination; they only need to outpace their closest competitor. This means a candidate could win with support from less than half of their party, creating a system that potentially allows for leadership that lacks broad consensus even within their own political base. Fascism thrives in environments where democratic structures are weakened or manipulated to concentrate power in a single individual. The U.S. system, which allows for a president to ascend to power with a minority of support during the nomination phase, and sometimes even during the general election via the Electoral College, creates a scenario where a leader with authoritarian tendencies could bypass the need for widespread approval. This could lead to the erosion of checks and balances, as such a leader might feel emboldened to govern unilaterally, prioritizing their loyal base over the will of the majority.
Boston, Massachusetts , US
Posts: 6
Dinner Table Discussion Reflection: Fascism
Fascism has no singular form and transforms based on the society that it manifests in. According to an article, “Does American Fascism Exist”, Fascism “functions as a so-called floating-signifier” meaning that it holds different definitions to different groups of people. The slippery nature of Fascism allows it to take hold in societies stirred up by political unrest. Fascist societies all share similar characteristics but differ in their principals. A Fascist society must contain a strong and influential— perhaps even cult-like — leader, propaganda and control of media, extreme nationalism, militarism, oppression of a targeted minority group, violence, and anti-intellectualism. Some of these characteristics are also commonly found in non-Fascist societies too. Fascism is appealing to ordinary people because of its nature to work to an individual or group’s advantage. Fascist ideology allows for justification of personal beliefs to become political ideology. Take for example the antisemitism during the Germany’s Weimar period and into World War II; this originated from the personal hatred and accusations of Jewish conspiracies which grew after the the end of World War I. The growth of such strong hatred generated the Fascist movement that took over Germany and much of Eastern Europe that worked to promote their previously held biases against Jewish people. This dangerous trust and faith in a movement that promotes hate of another group is appealing for ordinary people who hold grudges or deep biases. Many claim that the United States is currently experiencing Fascism and the recent re-election of President Donald Trump in the 2024 election signifies to many the growth of a Fascist movement in the U.S.. However, the United States has yet to fall into a full Fascist movement because it currently lacks many of the characteristics of a Fascist society. For one there is a lack of dictatorship and tyranny present in the current political structure. However this could change with the new year and the appointment of Donald Trump as the president for the new term combined with the majority Republican House of Representatives and the Senate. This startling imbalance of political views in the United States government indicates the possibility for a growth of dictatorship. Moreover, there’s the possibility of censorship, with the constant justification by politicians of the dangers of social media. While the United States does not appear to be a Fascist society, it is about to be headed by a Fascist leader. This again makes it more probable that Fascism could grow. Another country that may be currently experiencing neo-Fascism is Russia. While Russia is largely known as a Communist country, it actually contains many characteristics of Fascism. This includes dictatorship under Vladimir Putin and the biased propaganda fed to Russian citizens which glorifies the Russian war against Ukraine as righteous and just. Additionally, the intense censorship within Russia keeps Putin in power and prevents political uprisings by creating loyalist from adoring citizens. Russia is also known for its strong military and possession and development of nuclear weapons. There’s also a strong sense of patriotism that ebbs into nationalism which is amplified by propaganda and has led to the worship of Putin as a noble leader rather than a dictator. These characteristics make Russia seem like a neo-Fascist state, however it does lack the extreme violence characterized in Fascist state.
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Posts: 6
Fascism in the Modern Age DTD Reflection
Having held the dinner table discussion regarding how and why facism rises. I arrived at three potential reasons as to why fascism manifests in a society, fear from instability, a rise of anti-intellectualism, and the rise of cults of personality. These beliefs bring the rise of fascism because of how many fascist movements have risen. To use the rise of Nazism in Germany as an example, the Weimar years of the 1920s were greatly unstable and marked with economic uncertainty thus bringing a desire to flee from the instability and return to a supposed “natural order” that the Nazis claimed to offer. The rise of anti-intellectualism was also a common occurrence, where the freedom of press and media was demonized in order to prevent a population from being able to think critically. Lastly with the rise of a cult of personality occurring, bringing a face to the mass movement that arose from the first two. People tend to find fascism appealing for this reason – the feeling of stability at being a part of an in group that could potentially bring out a way to escape the hardships of current times. It is also why we see these fascist parties intensely glorify the past as people tend to see those times as better than the present, despite the hardships and shortcomings that those times bring as well.
Around the world, we have been seeing the rise of neo fascist movements – to connect it with my own country, I see MAGA as a fascist movement, my reasoning being that it fits into the above criteria mentioned, where many have felt the economic hardships of the past years and felt the need to remove the current system and embrace change. We see Donald Trump consistently create an in-group and out-group, emphasizing American superiority and being increasingly hostile to women and ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. Trump is famous for his frequent demonization of the press and his accusations of “fake news” when he is criticized, while a cult of personality has clearly formed because of his portrayal of him being, an “American for Americans”, fighting against the elites despite really targeting those who are already victims of the system. The MAGA movement is not unique however, rises in far-right movements in other parts of the world, most notably Europe with the rise of leaders like Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Giorgia Meloni in Italy employ many of these aforementioned tactics and have gained even more power than Trump has. These leaders have been gaining power and supporting each other, with the New York Times claiming that “Mr. Orban had banked on a Trump victory to show that he and Hungary are not isolated, analysts said.” Orbán has been anti-immigrant since his rise, demonizing migrants, similar to Trump and has emphasized the power and superiority of Hungary – all notable components of fascism. In Italy, Meloni has emphasized similar beliefs, emphasizing the superiority of Italy and a traditional order. The country made headlines last year when it became effectively impossible for gay couples to have themselves both listed on their child’s birth certificates, with some even losing their parental rights over their own children.
Movements like these tend to be built up gradually, with the Nazis implementing policies gradually over a long period of time in order to prevent outrage. These parallels are seen with this as well, with it being hard to keep up with this insane news because of all of the insane and extremist things these far right parties are doing. That being said, despite the rise of neo-fascism in the past few years, I am still trying to hold out hope that we may be able to defeat it, but it will be hard. There is still a large culture of resistance, but one needs to avoid it and not be afraid to protest and critique what is being said and instead need to focus on being resistant and refusing to allow this standard set by these far-right parties to stay.
