learntoquestion ltq discussions

Originally posted by star.lol on December 04, 2024 10:30

"...Fascism appeals to people because it gives them a sense of support and a sense of restoring order, and giving them a sense of purpose when there is nothing else that they can do, and want to solve these challenges and chaos. This can even affect other people’s lives, and other people’s freedom. Economic problems like unemployment, inflation leads to resentment, and so fascists use these problems to their advantage, and offer solutions like nationalism...The key characteristic of fascist societies is authoritarianism, as fascist societies are typically led by a dictatorial leadership who wants high power and wants loyalty from the people and citizens...People find fascism appealing because of the sense of security and order in chaotic times. The promise of a fascist leader who will take control, and bring the nation together gives people that sense of hope and security, especially during chaotic times because people are more vulnerable when emotional. It allows for people to regain their pride which was lost, especially when people feel as if they have lost their culture, and identity of who they are. It allows for a sense of community of people having the same goal of unity and being one, all under a charismatic leader who makes many promises to their society..."

The most compelling point is about why people fall victim to fascist ideology. I absolutely agree that it gives people a sense of power when they feel like they are powerless. It is interesting how well this maps onto what we learned about mass movement psychology—the people create the movement out of their own dissatisfaction with society and the perception that they are individually incapable of enacting change. Another way fascism can be seen as a “support” system is how those involved are usually looking for stability both economically as you mentioned but also socially, since in many cases fascism arises out of a fear of personal loss by granting other people more rights and liberties (zero-sum reasoning).

One thing I would disagree with is that authoritarianism is the most important aspect of fascism. While it is true that fascism demands loyalty, obedience, and conformity, it does not require total control to arise. Fascism exists in pockets and small groups before it can turn into one large movement under a single leader; Hitler was not the first Nazi and it wouldn’t be exactly true to imply that the Nazis were not fascist until Hitler was made a dictator by the Enabling Acts in 1933. Still, it is absolutely true that fascist movements put their faith in a face or single leader who provides a sense of unity (or rather uniformity).

Originally posted by watershipdown on December 03, 2024 19:50

Fascism manifests in societies during times of turmoil by exploiting fear, economic hardship, and the idea of returning to traditional values to establish authoritarian control. As Jason Stanley argues in How Fascism Works, fascist leaders create divisions by fostering an “us versus them” narrative and blaming societal challenges on a group of “others.” This divisive tactic, combined with nationalism and the promise to restore traditional ideals, resonates with those who are scared or feel threatened by change. Fascism ultimately offers insights into why such dangerous ideologies can attract initial support and how they can reemerge in the present.

Fascism is most likely to manifest when a society experiences prolonged instability like economic hardships, which creates a firm foundation for fascist ideologies. In the interwar period, both Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany rose to power by exploiting economic crises by promising rapid recovery and a return to glory. Jason Stanley highlights that fascist movements often romanticize a past era of strength and prosperity to suggest that only their leadership can restore the nation to that deserved position. This rhetoric resonates during times of economic hardships with widespread unemployment, inflation, and social inequality when people need easy solutions to complex problems.

Cultural and national identity crises also contribute to the rise of fascism. The Comparative Civilizations Review’s The Psychology of Fascism explains that such ideologies appeal to people's longing for simplicity and a return to traditional values. By presenting themselves as defenders of national identity, fascist movements capitalize on these fears and insecurities by scapegoating minorities or marginalized groups as threats to societal order.

In addition to economic and cultural factors, weak democratic institutions pave the way for fascist regimes. Corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of trust in the government allow fascist leaders to present themselves as the best option. Populism, a recurring theme in fascist rhetoric, frames elites and government officials as corrupt and positions their leader as the voice of the “common people.” This dynamic is particularly evident in many European country's politics, as outlined in Populist, Nativist, Neofascist? A Lexicon of Europe’s Far Right by The Guardian. Nativist and populist sentiments exacerbate fascism by prioritizing the majority group’s interests at the expense of inclusivity and equality.

A society becomes fascist when it exhibits a certain frame of defining characteristics. Centralized authoritarian leadership is a hallmark of fascism with power concentrated in a single leader or party and dissent harshly suppressed. Ultra-nationalism dominates public discourse and offers an exclusionary identity. Free speech and the press are suppressed, opposition is silenced, and militarism is glorified to project strength. Fascist regimes are anti-intellectualism and prioritize propaganda. These traits ultimately work together to create an environment where fascist control is normalized.

Fascist ideology initially appeals to people because it offers certainty and order in times of chaos. Its easy solutions to complex problems resonate with individuals seeking quick answers. Jason Stanley emphasizes that fascism provides a sense of belonging and purpose by portraying the in-group as morally superior, it appeals to feelings of disempowerment by promising to dismantle power structures and restore national pride.

Today, while outright fascist regimes are rare, several nations exhibit neo-fascist tendencies. Hungary under Viktor Orbán, for example, has been described as moving toward “illiberal democracy,” a term Orbán himself uses. The government undermines judicial independence, restricts the press, and enforces nativist policies that align with characteristics of fascist governance. Similarly, in the United States, Donald Trump’s presidency has sparked debate over whether his rhetoric and policies constituted fascism. The National Review’s No, Trump Is Not a Fascist argues that Trump’s populism lacks the ideology of classical fascism while the New Republic, argues that his authoritarian rhetoric and nationalist sentiment bear striking similarities to fascist strategies.

In conclusion, fascism arises from societal vulnerabilities, feeding on fear and division as well as the promise of national unity. Its appeal lies in its simplicity to those feeling alienated. While contemporary politics may not feature fascist regimes in their historical form, the presence of neo-fascist tendencies in several nations emphasizes the need to understand and resist fascism.

I liked the way that you referenced your source, and referenced specific examples of what you were talking about throughout your post. Especially when you made connections to other things that weren’t about Germany. The only problem that I saw with the writing was that your first topic sentence was strong, but you started some of your paragraphs not as strongly which took away from the style. I would have liked if you gave your own personal views on whether not you believe that Donald Trump was a fascist or not.

I think the most compelling idea in my peer’s post is the opening statement that “Fascism manifest in societies during times of turmoil by exploiting fear, economic hardship, and the idea of returning to traditional values to establish authoritarian control”. Not only do I think that it was a great point, but it was also a strong and interesting start to their argument. I agree that fascism takes advantages of people during poor circumstances, it’s an intelligent political strategy but unfortunately throughout history it has brought severe damage. Fascists are able to use people’s fears to manipulate them into join their cause, once they have gotten on board it’s easy for them to be brainwashed into this thought of “us versus them” that you referenced. Overall all I think that this was very well written and that you made a lot of valid points and articulated your point clearly.

Facism has been seen in Germany first in after the fall of the Weimar republic and Hitlers rise to power. This ultra authoritarian type of government is very harmful to society but for our modern day world to avoid facism we must look at the factors that lead a country to adopt fascist government policies.

Hilters rise to power can be summed up by the word “Fear;” Hitler was able to bring fear into the mass public of Germany and through this was able to gain control. Justas the Comparative Civilizations Review states, “Fascist ideology is the product of a particular psychological structure which is irrational and related to an authoritarian patriarchal family structure.” In hitlers case he was able to create an irrational fear that Jews were controlling the world and bringing shame to germany even though they made up just three quarter of a percent of the population.

What makes us believe that hitlers power was of facism? The part of hitlers government that separated itself from a monarchy or other authoritarian government was the power was concentrated in a single leader or party with little to no checks and balances. Along with this the ultranationalist beliefs spreaded by the Nazis that reaffirmed their superiority was a key aspect of the facism that would not be in place under an authoritarian leader that was not fascist.

Even though fascist has so many negative aspects about it, why have we seen fascist leaders take over in many parts of the world? Simply put, fascist leaders and the ideology that they project can be very comforting to mass audiences. In Germany, Hitler promised to eradicate the Jewish people that were ruining germany; Hitler promised a better and simpler way of life and even though his claims were based on the false pretense that Jews were evil.

Neo-facism has many of the same ideals and times as historic facism as practiced by the Nazis. Neo-facism qualifies as far right, populist and socially conservative ideology and laws. Many people claim Donald Trump, former (2016) and upcoming (2024) president of the United States of America, to be a dictatorial fascist.“20th-century fascists hated parliamentary democracy. They believed in an all-consuming state and had contempt for bourgeois life. Fundamentally, fascism celebrated violence in a nihilistic rejection of rationality and elevation of military struggle” (National Review). While Trump has displayed authoritarian tendencies, such as questioning elections and favoring strong executive power, his policies—like deregulation and judicial appointments—reflect conservative populism, not the centralized, militaristic totalitarianism of classic fascism. The term "fascist" in this context is debated and often oversimplified.

fascism lives on fear, division, and promises of a better future, often gaining traction in times of social and economic instability. To prevent the resurgence of such harmful ideologies, it is crucial to recognize the underlying factors that lead societies toward authoritarianism, such as economic despair, political polarization, and cultural anxieties.

Originally posted by shaquille.oatmeal123 on December 03, 2024 22:27

Fascism is a political ideology that emerges most in times of social, political, and economic upheaval. When democratic systems are failing, it also can thrive. Often, it is ruled by an authoritarian system. It is defined by moments of uncertainty within history and also suppression. Conditions that aid in the rise of Fascism are economic instability, nationalistic movements, the polarization of politicians and parties (and weak institutions overall), and finally propaganda. Fascist societies are normally militaristic and scapegoat a group of people in order to push their narrative further. Economically, if a nation is failing, the population will become insecure with their government. This can be seen in the Weimar Republic, where during the Great Depression there was high inflation and unemployment. This led to Hitler’s Nazi party to gain traction as they promised economic revival. Fascism also targets a sense of national identity, offering a sense of unity. Returning to the idea of scapegoating, this was mostly used by the Nazis against Jew’s and Communists. Often, these groups have come under fire by fascists, not just Hitler. It is important to note how fascism instills a “us vs. them” mentality, giving both a sense of identity and unity while removing those who can be seen as an “issue” to the fascist society. Fascism draws people in through times of uncertainty, often giving a promise that cannot or is impossible to fulfill. One aspect I really wanted to focus on is the political polarization that occurs in Fascist societies. Often common is a charismatic leader, embodying the fascist societies ideals of strength and national pride. This can be seen in Mussolini or Hitler, who promised to lead the nation to rebirth personally. Fascist societies reject democracy, and often thrive. This is ironic to me as in the U.S right now, it is quite polarizing. It can be argued that the U.S itself could be an emerging fascist society. In the article “Does American Fascism Exist?” by New Republic, it discusses how people in our society are leaning into a fascist society. This can be seen through how our political parties are so very divisive and polarized: “Moreover, in eras like our own, in which rampant polarization co-exists with a political structure in which most citizens have no influence, it’s only natural for people to construct struggles that give their lives political meaning.” I disagree with this on some points, including the fact that our government is unified on most points and decides through checks and balances. This allows not only one party to control the government, and ensures democracy is stable. In our world today, there can be examples of neo-fascism taking place. For example, in Hungary, Viktor Orban (the prime minister) openly endorses “illiberal democracy” which can be viewed as a branch of fascism. There are also similarities between fascism and alt-right movements across countries in the world. Fascism arises in societies gripped by fear and uncertainty, offering simple solutions to complex problems. It disillusions the populations and leads to an authoritarian and exclusionary government.

This post does a good job at explaining the rise of fascism through historical examples, particularly in the Weimar Republic, and connecting these ideas to modern day politics and current events. I think the most compelling idea in your post is how political polarization and charismatic leaders play an essential role in fascist societies. This point is particularly interesting when you use it to connect historical and modern events, which ultimately offers a reflection on current political climates in the U.S. and Hungary and how they could potentially be vulnerable to fascism.

I agree with your point about how polarization can create a foundation for authoritarian ideologies, especially when you take into account the idea of a political horseshoe. Polarization also erodes trust in democratic institutions and fosters an "us vs. them" mentality that can be commonly seen in the U.S. However, I also find the argument that the U.S. could be an emerging fascist society to be debatable. While polarization and divisive rhetoric are concerning, they are not the only factors of a fascist government. The strength of checks and balances in the U.S. government also works to prevent fascism, but is any nation truly immune to it? Overall, your perspective is extremely thought-provoking and well-researched!

Originally posted by historymaster321 on December 03, 2024 20:01

Fascism manifests itself in politically, socially, and economically unstable societes. After World War l the German society was in complete economic shambles due to the restrictions and reparations that they faced from the Treaty of Versailles. These economic shambles included hyperinflation and a large decrease in employment. Soon later, Germany turned to a new way of ruling and leading, The Weimar Republic. Although this new system of government had its benefits, it ultimately struggled with political stability and opposition from different groups in Germany. After the fall of The Weimar Republic, Germany then went on to lose more of its territory and face restrictions within its own military. Through years of failure within their society, politics, as well as their economics, the German people were just looking for any way of ruling that would give them success. They were looking for a new system of order that would allow them to have some form of hope, patriotism, and all around success. All of these circumstances allowed for them to eventually turn to a Fascist way of leading and ruling. The characteristics which must be present in a fascist society include ultra nationalism, worship of the leader, obsession with enemies within as well as crimes against the nation, and especially massive propaganda and media control. Regarding the propaganda and media control, there were radios, Volkssempfanger, which were sold at a cheap price making it easier for people to purchase and for everyone to have in their homes. Propaganda was then not only portrayed when you were out at a store or at school, but as well as in your own home. Now at all times of the day the messages and ideas of propaganda were being fed and forced to the people. Through these aspects of a fascist society, all thoughts, ideas, and actions of the people were mainly controlled by the leader. With complete control over these attributes the leader was then able to lead more successfully with having the whole support of the society. The same society which was brainwashed into believing that this way of leadership and ruling is the only solution and the only way to rule for success and safety. People were so desperate during these times because of how awful and challenging life had been for all of these post - war years. Now, being told that there is a long lasting, beneficial, and safe way of order to live under, people would do anything to have this come to life. Initially, though, the appeals to Fascism included national pride, identifiable enemies, and a sense of belonging. As I stated before, the German people had lost so much hope in their society that these aspects were genuinely appealing to them. For example, they were completely humiliated in Germany once they had to surrender from the war and then once the Treaty of Versailles and its restrictions were placed on them. Fascism allowed for a chance to finally regain the hope, pride, and overall greatness that the German people had lost in their society. Through having identifiable enemies it made it easier for them to have explanations and reasoning for their actions and ideas. The identifiable enemies included societal groups and external enemies such as the Jewish people. By targeting them and setting the blame on them, the German people could continue on with their atrocious actions. In the article “Does American Fascism Exist the author states that “Others disagree, maintaining that the enabling structural conditions of classical European fascism—firsthand experience of total war, a powerful left, and a relatively weak state capable of being taken over—no longer exist, and that, whatever right-wing populism is, describing it as “fascist” occludes more than it illuminates.” The quote discusses the fact that although another Fascist led society is possible, it will not be the same Fascism led society as it was 70 years ago in Germany. Our country could come to a fascist rule but the we will experience a modern version of fascism with more of a right - wing populism.

I find your statement that our country could come to a fascist rule, that is one of a right - wing populism to be quite intriguing. I wish you could expand more on that and discuss how America could come to that point. I agree that an important aspect of fascism is to have thoughts, ideas, and actions being controlled by a leader as well as having an identifiable enemy, but I wonder how America would come to that point. We're known as the land of the free and have so many freedoms that other places couldn't dare to have. The constitution makes it extremely hard to get rid of those freedoms and to allow one person to control our media, sources of information etc. If someone in power were to get to that point they would basically have to ignore the constitution turning our country into chaos. I do wonder however, if it is just the right wing that could come to this point. I think it has been established that although the right wing is more fascist in nature, the left wing could become fascist as well. I wonder if the left wing would or even could come to that point in the America that we have today.

Originally posted by Vonnegut123 on December 04, 2024 09:16

I agree with the pieces of fascism outlined in “The Psychology of Fascism” by Kenneth Fiegenbaum: a charismatic authoritarian, the “positive evaluation of violence,” and the projection of issues onto another group or groups. Excessive stress on masculinity may also be a factor but this could also be seen as an expression of the third factor. Something that is very difficult to describe is the difference between a dictatorship and a fascist regime. Notably there is a more functioning government in a fascist regime that contributes to the decision making process. Fascism also must be radical far-right and be based around nationalism. This is somewhat ironic to me, historically the person who had all 24 fasces– the symbol from which we get the word facism– was a dictator. However, in the modern day these powers are controlled by a dictator or autocrat but also by a populist movement.

Fascism is only appealing to those who are frustrated or insulted and who wish to lash out. In the past, those who can make the outlandish promises of easy change and improvement have been popular. It is much easier for people to blame the issue on some conspiracy than to take responsibility. National pride is a defining and unifying factor so it can easily bring people together. Historically, promises of restoring national pride, “fixing” the economy and safety were some promises. Now Hungary’s near dictator Viktor Orban for example, has used national pride and anti-immigrant policy to gain support. This behavior toward immigrants is emulated in Italy however Italy still has more fair and equal elections.

In the more distant past there have been several openly fascist organizations in America. There has been a resurgence in fascist behavior recently: the January 6th attempt to overturn the democratic process, hateful acts against minority groups, a swing to the radical right, frustration over the economy and limiting of civil liberties. In the article “Populist, Nativist, Neofascist? A Lexicon of Europe’s Far Right?” by The Guardian the variety of far right groups and their general increase in popularity is a sign indicating a neo-fascist era in Europe. Russia could also be seen in a neo-fascist era under Putin. This doesn’t mean that all of these countries that are having radical right wing momentum or more authoritarian governments are fascist. Some might better fit the nomenclature of totalitarianism, authoritarianism, dictatorship, oligarchy, single-party democracy, or autocracy but these forms of government with little political voice for the masses is dangerous currently will only get more harmful for the people in those countries but also beyond as support spreads and these governments take root. Constitutional government, freedom of press, freedom to protest, religious freedom, political freedom, and democracy were all once revolutionary ideas which monarchs tried to suppress. Now democracy is in control but ideologies which are harmful to the current way of life are reemerging. It is hard for generations which do not remember the horrors and reality of the past to be correctly fearful and observant so education and truth are necessary.

Post your response here.

The most compelling idea in this post is that recently in America there has been a resurgence in fascist behavior. The writer of the post followed up with this by mentioning the “January 6th attempt to overturn the democratic process, hateful acts against minority groups, a swing to the radical right, frustration over the economy and limiting of civil liberties.” I absolutely agree with this statement because the far right party in America has showcased their emulation of fascist ideals. This idea is interesting because it is so controversial. So many people believe that its outrageous to claim that fascism is being emulated within America. Ideas from other posts that relate to this post are how fascism is characterized; through “a charismatic authoritarian [gov.], ‘the positive evaluation of violence,’ and the projection of issues onto another group’”. I can see my own views in this because I characterized fascism similarly. I also believed that the far right of America showcases characteristics of fascism. The author of this post could make sure their sentence structure is better.

Originally posted by mydoglikescheese on December 03, 2024 14:14

The birth of fascism comes not from an explosion, but rather from a steady build-up of an agitated society with aspects of traditionalism, anti-intellectualism, and the exclusion of groups of people. Fascism is not a thing of the past, and it's important to remember how it can conform to any society regardless of their position. Years can pass yet human nature will stay the same, and in a large group this feeling will only intensify. A large part of fascism revolves around the exclusion of others which is described in the article “Does American Fascism Exist?” as, “their shared racism, reliance on the petit bourgeois, hypernationalism, and xenophobia—indicate that fascism, finally, has come to America.” Later on in the article the author examines how the constant use of the word fascism can take away from certain meanings, which while is a big concern, it is also interesting to note how certain aspects of it are still alive today.

The concept of fascism is broad. It acts in the way that slime will conform to its surroundings, or how a square is always a rectangle but a rectangle is not always a square. Instead of trying to find a rigid definition, we should instead turn to the countries that have exhibited these qualities and compare them to the countries of today. I believe that the biggest part of a fascist society relies on both anti-intellectualism and also the exclusion of people. By creating what would be called an outgroup, or perhaps fostering a “us vs. them” mentality it gives power to the leader. On this, another powerful part of a fascist society is how charismatic the leader is. Like previously mentioned, fascism can occur anywhere, however much of it is due to this idea of having a mob mentality, and how tensions in a society can boil up. The addition of a strong leader is what makes this movement become solidified however, as it adds a structure to an idea and builds it up into something more.

On this I don’t believe that it is entirely correct to call the United States a fascist country, however there are still many fascist qualities that are exhibited here throughout the nation, and it begs the question of what will happen next. Taking a deeper dive into this thought, the idea of exclusion is prevalent throughout the country, and the foundations of it were built upon this sentiment. While looking into this on the European side, many of these countries also experience this idea of “Populist, nativist, neo-fascist.” The article also takes a look into the extreme right and how they are related to neo-Nazi ideologies like nativism and anti-intellectualism. One thing I wonder is how the people react to this all, and if they feel safe with their government, or if they wish to change it yet either are remaining silent by choice or by fear. All in all, fascism is a packed word, and it can carry the weight of history with it. While it can be hard to pin down, it’s always important to look at these ideas with a critical thought because the sentiments that are born from fascism ultimately are harmful to all groups, and the only way we can change this is by learning.

I really enjoyed reading your response, mydoglikescheese! I found your idea about fascism as a steady buildup rather than an explosion intriguing, as this misconception is what causes many people to avoid calling out fascist behavior in front of them. I also agree that the overuse of the term fascism may be harmful in that it takes away from its true impact and meaning; that being said, I do think that it is imperative that people are unafraid to point out patterns of violence and hate within their own communities and societies. I also found your idea very interesting that it is more beneficial to observe fascist societies throughout history in relation to present day governments than to create a rigid definition of the term. Conversely, I also believe that having a definition or checklist for what constitutes a fascist society is helpful in identifying fascist governments in the present as well as limiting the likelihood of the word being misused. Overall, you made significant and necessary points about education serving as a way to combat fascism. Anti-intellectualism, as you mentioned, is crucial in the development of a fascist society. Thus, we must continue learning and be willing to explore serious topics like this in order to prevent them from ever occurring again. As the philosopher George Santayana famously put it, “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”

Originally posted by map on December 03, 2024 13:15

One thing I strongly agreed with in maps post was the emphasis on fear from fascist leadership, and the manipulation of good intentions into something evil. Map put it well by saying fascism is ultimately just "an irrational fear of change." At the heart of humanity, everyone is just trying to protect themselves and the people they love, and this desire can be used to propel propaganda and ideologies that convince people that some other group is trying to hurt them. I also agreed with what map said about the "zero sum" mentality, in which people refuse to believe that other people can gain rights without taking something away from them. This can be seen countless times in society, and is generally the root of every form of discrimination and xenophobia. I found this to be the most compelling point, because it also turns away from specifically fascism, as it can be used as an explanation for most global social issues. I also agreed with the point that calling others, specifically republicans in the US, fascist, is counterproductive, as it only deepens polarization in our country and ignores the true intentions of those who have been manipulated into believing fear-based or fascist ideologies.

Fascism manifests in society out of an irrational fear of change. Those who fear losing what they have are the most susceptible to fascism, as well as those who feel like society is pushing them away. “The Psychology of Fascism” cites Ziegler’s list of fascist attributes to be anti-enlightenment (or the idea that not all humans are created equal), identity politics, a nationalistic state, a positive emphasis on violence, the stressed importance of youth, anti-individualism, anti-intellectualism, and charismatic leadership. However, it is not exactly right to say a nationalistic state is necessary to breed fascism, as sentiments of hypernationalism and fascist movements can exist before they control the government. Nobody would argue that Hitler was ever not a fascist; he didn’t become fascist when he was granted dictatorial control. Maslov’s list of attributes adds a desire for authority, obedience, belief in social hierarchy or social Darwinism, conformity, traditionalism, and xenophobia.

The belief in tradition is the most important attribute defining fascism as, as Maslov claims, fascism is marked by a zero-sum way of thinking. In reality, nothing is taken from men by giving women rights, nothing is taken from white people by giving people of color rights, and nothing is taken from straight and cisgender people by giving queer people rights, yet fascists see strides in equality as threatening as they disrupt social hierarchy. Fascism positions equality as a loss of power. This is the foundation of the expression of other fascist principles, such as xenophobia and anti-intellectualism; anything new information or people that could threaten homogeneity or tradition is seen as dangerous.

People are drawn into fascist movements out of their genuine fears. It is important to remember that all sides hold similar moral intentions deep down; for example, most people value protecting their families from harm. This can be expressed in many (good and bad) ways—for example, people, because they need to provide for their family or value their kids’ success, may be manipulated to irrationally fear that immigrants could take their jobs. In their minds, their concern is right for their family. Fascist movements are able to manipulate the fears of the everyman and adapt them to whatever goal its leaders wish to achieve. This is why it is problematic to accuse people caught up in the deceit of leaders of being inherently evil by definition.

This leads into the discussion of politics today. It is absolutely fair to say that America is seeing a rise of movements and ideologies that are reminiscent of fascism. Trump and the MAGA republicans check many of the fascist boxes discussed earlier: they are hypernationalistic (the statement “make America great again” in and of itself), they emphasize violence (January 6th), they are willing to obey and conform to whatever Trump desires, there is increased concern over identity politics (trans rights), there is a return to traditional gender roles (alpha males and tradwives), and, above all, there is the zero-sum idea that someone else’s gain is their loss (especially with immigrants, poc, and queer people). Yet, using fascist as an indiscriminate insult against Republicans is counterproductive—after all, they are still people, and they have been manipulated into their beliefs. It is impossible to convince someone to change their views once you have told them they are evil. Once someone’s morals are called into question, they no longer listen; everyone believes they have the best intentions at heart (and they usually do, even if poorly applied). This, for example, is why Hillary Clinton failed to gain any Republican votes in 2016: she called them “deplorables,” dehumanizing them and villainizing them. Why would anybody want to listen to that? The only way we can avoid slipping into fascism is by undoing polarization and seeking to bridge the ideological gap. Fascism feeds on division.

Post your response here.

Originally posted by mrgiggles!! on December 04, 2024 10:07

In societies troubled by political, social, and economic turmoil, fascism easily manifests, with its ideologies quickly adopted by ordinary people. When World War I finally came to an end, the start of a new battle had seemed to begin - nations across the globe were suffering and the world seemed to enter a state of despair and monotony. In Germany, specifically, the once great power was promptly devastated by financial ruin, looming horrors of the war, and an extremely fragile political body. Nation-wide fear and outrage emanated, making it incredibly easy for people to become susceptible to radical ideologies that seemed to promise even a hint of change. Leaders like Hitler and Mussolini were able to capitalize on these widespread feelings of resentment and uncertainty, because in times where solutions appeared scarce, they offered a solution. Hitler’s promise to return to Germany’s era of prosperity was appealing to many. He incrementally radicalized his policies and was strategic with how often he was implementing change, allowing people to accustom themselves to this new sense of “normal.” In such challenging times, fascism also presented people with a scapegoat. Though Jews comprised a marginally low percentage of the German population and posed no threat to German society whatsoever, Hitler blamed the shortcomings of the nation entirely on them and deliberately targeted his policies towards them. He was able to shift people’s feelings of resentment onto such a small group of people and they soon shared both a common sense of hatred and ultra-nationalistic ways of thinking. Naturally, this speaks to human’s nature to categorize ourselves into “us vs. them,” and fuel our frustrations towards the “enemy within.” In The Psychology of Fascism, William Reich touches on this idea and proposes that humans use “character armor” - it is “ formed as a chronic result of the clash between instinctual demands and an outer world which frustrates these demands,” is “created by repression,” and thus, “negative feelings about oneself are projected against others.” The negative feelings shared by such a large group of people make them more vulnerable to developing this “character armor.” For a nation to be considered fascist, it encompasses these components of glorification of the past, identification of a scapegoat, and worship of a leader. I also believe that massive propaganda and media control is a major characteristic of fascist societies. Fascist leaders often manipulate what is consumed by the general populace so that they aren’t exposed to foreign ideas and practices. Much of Hitler’s success is owed to this tight control and manipulation. While I do think that America today exhibits these characteristics to some extent, I don’t necessarily believe that it is experiencing a neo-fascist era. However, I do think that we have the potential to slip into a fascist regime, as we aren’t entirely immune to it, even with a democratic government. Hitler and Mussolini weren’t able to rise to success on their own - they gained the support of millions by emphasizing the danger of the common enemy and exploiting feelings of concern. For this reason, it may not be productive to label Trump as a fascist but instead recognize how he uses similar tactics to gain support and mobilize his supporters against his opponents, because ultimately, this is how fascism can stem. It emerges over a gradual course of time, and we only realize the severity of it when it is too late.

The main compelling idea in this passage is the idea that facism increases gradually in a society specifically when people feel scared or hopeless and are overall in need of a change. Leaders such as Hitler and Mousilini used the German peoples feelings of uncertainty and fear to gain followers and support. By targeting a specific group, the Jewish people, they had a clear enemy and it made it easier to support these leaders through having the same reasoning and ideas as to why they were supporting. Through the use of various forms of propaganda and control Hitler and leaders like him, were able to move forward with a fascist society. I agree with these ideas as they were the ones that I also discussed in my analysis. I especially agree with the idea that “He was able to shift people’s feelings of resentment onto such a small group of people and they soon shared both a common sense of hatred and ultra-nationalistic ways of thinking.” By having this common enemy Hitler was able to gain support and his supporters found it easier to support him. They could now point at the problem and point at the people “creating” these issues. This idea is most interesting to me because I think about how I would have reacted in a situation like this. Would I have agreed that a certain group of people were creating our country's issues and that we should reprimand them for it or I would believe that our country's issues did not originate from this group nor is there anything wrong with this group? Overall this writer did a great job on analyzing the fascist regime that Hitler led and discussed clear and conscience points with plenty of evidence and reasoning.

Originally posted by EastCoast11 on December 03, 2024 23:06

Facism can be seen as a far-right, highly authoritarian, nationalist political ideology and movement, but the key takeaway is the many characteristics present to result in such a suppressive state of a nation. It's fascinating to explore core aspects and what exactly makes the fascist ideology so appealing that history is seen repeating itself. Based on our recent dinner table discussion and relevant readings, I strongly agree that hatred is the main pattern that not only begins the early signs of facism but continues to grow in numbers. Starting at the earliest stories of the Jews and the people of Europe, which is the start of antisemitism - a very good example of the rise in facism. During the first christian era, the majority of Europe's population fell under the catholic religion, though there was a small percentage that did not exactly fall into the same category - Jews. Considering the highly religious community, the jews were bound to become the minority and seen as disloyal. This feeds into a claim made by Feldman “Historically, antisemitism has been a side effect of populism, which traffics in us vs them stereotypes”. As it hadn’t taken long before the leaders of the hierarchy to create assumptions that allowed the Jews to be their scapegoat for their miseries and sins. Eventually these small assumptions made people angry and completely changed the dynamics of the jews lives such as housing conditions and work treatment, despite none of the rumors being proven. The beginaing of what eventually became the tragic period of the Holocaust, it sounds quite similar to the time of the Amernian Genocide, which is just now becoming more modernly known and talked about. In the population of the Ottoman Empire where it is ruled by muslim turks, the christman armenians were constantly targeted for being assumed as a threat to the empire after already facing immense decline. The gradual spread of hate had created this dreadful tension, but what specially made people initially find the fascist ideology so appealing is the insurance of a solution to their political, economic, and social problems.Therefore, “If the demagogue ‘a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the prejudice of the people is the father of the nation”, there is a stronger force for people to follow after orders made by the leader. When a nation is lacking guidance and is experiencing struggles, they will move towards the closest model of how a government should be, regardless of its pure intentions. The absence of fundamental thinking will allow propaganda to become effective. A great example would be the European Christian leaders who had participated in religious teachings that manipulated their followers into believing that the Jew’s blood was contaminated and used for children's rituals. During that time, most people went to church to find an escape and pray for better things during times of distress. Therefore, the leaders were able to easily promote these stereotypes, and create a strong hatred that eventually led to dramatic change in the nation. In conclusion, fascism thrives in times of uncertainty and crisis, where people are searching for a sense of direction and purpose. The appeal of fascist ideology lies in its ability to provide a clear, albeit dangerous, solution to political, economic, and social struggles. It fosters a toxic "us vs. them" mentality, often rooted in deep-seated hatred and scapegoating, as we see in the histories of antisemitism and other genocides.

EastCoast11’s main point was that the central pillar of Fascism is hate. Us vs Them politics that feed off fear of a minority. This is certainly true, fascism is inherently built around hate. The interesting aspect of this truth is examining how a country falls into such an ideology and deep hate of other people. In the case of the Holocaust, EastCoast11 made a strong argument for religious difference being the main reason. On this note I would disagree. While antisemitism rose in Europe due to the religious difference back in the middle ages, by the time Fascism began and the Nazi’s took power, the driver of antisemitism was for racist reasons not religious. The Jewish people were seen as ethnically distinct peoples from Europeans, with their own language and culture. Hitler didn’t really use religion as a political tool or justification either. Instead, the idea of phrenology was still relatively popular in Europe and was used by the Nazis to justify their hatred. EastCoast11 did, however, make strong connections to the Armenian Genocide as evidence, which gave merit to their argument. I think the best way for them to improve their reflection would have been to generalize the topic of the writing. Something I liked about both mrgiggles!! and KWR26’s reflections were the generalized scope of the writing. Overall though, it was a very insightful reflection.

Originally posted by EX0 on December 01, 2024 11:39

Fascism rises as a conservative response to political unrest. Throughout the 20th century, fascist leaders emerged in states that were newly liberal leaning and struggling, often economically. The economic issues led many to blame the liberal government and turn towards the right for change. This gave unique power to leaders like Hitler and Mussolini to shape a government around them. Fascism, like many authoritarian regimes, forms quickly. Once a leader gains power, changes happen fast so that people don’t have time to resist. They blink and find themselves under a new government, unable to show dissent. Fascism often grows in similar ways to other authoritarian regimes with a strongman leader, suppression of political rivals, and often with an emphasis on military power. Unlike other authoritarian regimes, however, fascism is a strong and distinct ideology that focuses on fierce nationalism and racism to repress and often try to eliminate minority groups in order to ‘purify’ the dominant race. People are drawn to fascist ideology because it presents a very simple explanation and solution to the issues that a nation may be going through, thus making it easier for some to slowly gain such extreme views. In the 21st century we have seen a rise in neo-fascist parties across the world, many of which gained power shortly after the Great Recession. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, a member of the Brothers of Italy Party, which is a new offshoot of the Italian fascist party MSI, was elected prime minister. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro promoted fascist groups during his time in power. Probably the most obvious example is in Greece, where the neo-fascist party called The Golden Dawn has been winning seats in parliament since the recession and has used street violence against opposing ideologies as a powerful political tool, much like the Nazi Party. All that is to say, neo-fascism is absolutely a real and prevalent issue in today’s world. But what about in America? In our discussion we talked about the idea of the US turning fascist and if Donald Trump was an aspiring fascist leader. It is inherently more difficult for true fascism to rise in the United States because of our inherent ethnic diversity as a country of immigrants. The United States doesn’t have a long history of a single, dominant ethnic group. Most of the people who live here are at most 3rd generation. The most dominant ethnic group in the US is German, with just around 15% of the population. This makes it much harder to appeal to a shared background rooted in the United States than in places like Greece, which has an ethnic history dating back to around 2200 BC. The difficulty for true fascism to arise in the United States has not stopped the term from being applied to virtually every political group in the US, however. “In the words of the anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, who originated the phrase, a floating signifier is a term “void of meaning and thus apt to receive any meaning.” At one point or another, every political perspective in the United States has been identified as fascist. In the last two decades alone, Jonah Goldberg railed against “liberal fascism” as Chris Hedges dubbed the “Christian Right” “American fascists.” Dinesh D’Souza claimed that Hillary Clinton was fascist; Paul Krugman said the same about Trump. And even fringe ideologies weren’t safe: Sebastian Gorka linked socialism with fascism, while Nouriel Roubini made similar claims about libertarianism.” (New Republic). The term fascism become virtually meaningless in American society, essentially just being used to mean that one’s political adversaries are ‘evil.’ Although the argument that Trump is fascist has more merit than most uses of the term in recent history, I believe it is still inaccurate. Yes, Trump has praised fascists and uses rhetoric similar to them, he lacks the ideological foundation to be fascist himself. Trump seems to be a better representation of an aspiring Putin than Hitler. He wants to be a dictator; he doesn’t truly care about ‘an enemy within.’ He uses such rhetoric because he knows it will help him gain power. The difference between Trump and Hitler is that Hitler believed what he preached and did, Trump on the other hand will say or do whatever will get him elected. I don’t mean to say that Trump is any less dangerous than he would be if he were fascist. Authoritarianism is a threat to our democracy regardless of the ideology (or lack thereof), especially if it leads to persecution. Nobody is saying that Putin is fascist, but that doesn’t mean people don’t see the danger of his power. The same is true for Trump.

Your analysis of how ethnic diversity in the United States serves as a barrier to the rise of true fascism is a particularly compelling aspect of your post. I agree that the lack of a dominant group rooted in shared history makes it difficult to sustain the kind of ideology that underpins traditional fascism. You further illustrate this point with your comparison to Greece, where a long-standing ethnic identity can be weaponized in political discourse. This distinction becomes even more interesting when considering leaders like Putin, who similarly exploit cultural identities to gain power. Although Russia lacks the ethnic diversity of the United States, Putin’s focus on nationalism and a revival of traditional values mirrors some of the strategies fascist regimes use, highlighting how authoritarian leaders manipulate their rhetoric to fit their nation’s unique context. That said, your point can be strengthened by discussing how these dynamics play out in the American context. While the U.S. may lack a dominant ethnic group, political movements have historically sought to construct a sense of dominance, often centered around white culture. This suggests that, while diversity complicates fascist appeals, it doesn’t entirely prevent them. Overall, your broader discussion of authoritarianism is insightful, with room to delve deeper into how diversity in the U.S. shapes the challenges and adaptations of authoritarian ideologies.

Originally posted by WoahWoah on December 03, 2024 12:05

In order for fascism to manifest within a society there has to be a crisis or a problem that the majority of the civilians in said society are experiencing and they feel that the way the government is being run there is no way they will ever solve these problems. These problems can obviously vary but it would most commonly align with poverty and unemployment. Fascist societies tend to be societies that at the moment fascism starts to spread are currently on an economic decline, and are experiencing high levels of unemployment and bankruptcy. These problems come with the next criteria for fascism to manifest, the lack of trust in the government. For fascism to rise people have to feel as if the government doesn’t know how to solve the problems of society, and doesn’t know how to lead the country to a promising future. This lack of belief allows for citizens to begin to look towards other options, the political instability creates a huge opening for fascism. These same civilians look at themselves as victims, as if they have done no wrong and tre receiving consequences that they don’t deserve. This makes them targets that are easily susceptible to manipulation and propaganda. The fascist leaders use propaganda to create scapegoats, a reason for the troubles that the people face and take all of the blame off of them. Feeling as if they could possibly do no wrong, they latch onto this reason and run wild with it blindly following it with all that they have. For the people that don’t believe in the propaganda and have their own thoughts, they are silenced because “propagandists cannot attack dissent head-on; instead they must represent it as something violent and oppressive…” (Stanley 37). Having your own unique opinion in a fascist society is not possible, you are labeled as an enemy, nobody wants to be labeled an enemy to their own country or deal with those consequences so the people who think differently follow in line. This is how a fascist regime manifests within a society. Characteristics of fascism that you are guaranteed to see is authoritarianism. Oftentimes this leader is viewed as charismatic, intelligent and somewhat holy, they are worshiped by their followers and held up to a God-like status. This leader is able to reassure the citizens of a society that he will lead them to a better future where everything will be better, and due to the large number of hopeful citizens they follow behind him hoping that he will actually bring what he says he will. Behind this authoritarian government style, there will almost always be a misuse of the military and large amounts of violence as a way of retaliation towards civilians who are not falling in line with the government’s agenda. The appeal that fascist regimes have is that they promise a future of order, stability, and national pride and restoring national identity and a strong government focused on the people. Fascist regimes normally manifest within societies that have at least one of these problems, people’s fears allow for political parties to use their fears and incorporate it into their pitches to gain more support.

I totally agree with what you said about how fascism tends to rise during times of crisis, especially when people are struggling with things like poverty, unemployment, and political instability. Like you mentioned, during the Weimar Republic, Germany was dealing with a collapsed economy and the humiliation from the Treaty of Versailles. This made people feel like victims, and it made the promises of the Nazi Party—stability and national pride—sound really appealing. You also brought up how a lack of trust in the government plays a huge role in the rise of fascism. When the government can’t fix things, people start looking for other solutions. That’s when fascist leaders step in, offering simple answers and strong, charismatic leadership. I agree with you about propaganda being a key part of this. By creating a common enemy—like the Jews in Nazi Germany—leaders shift the blame from the real issues and get people to unite in anger. As you said, this also helps shut down anyone who disagrees because they’re seen as enemies of the state. Lastly, I agree that fascist regimes promise a future with order and national pride, which sounds pretty great when things are falling apart. The idea of a strong leader who can fix everything is tempting, especially when people feel let down by their own government. This mix of fear, propaganda, and desperation is what helps fascism take hold.

Originally posted by Dolphin315 on December 01, 2024 20:15

Fascism manifests in society’s that are in need of certainty and stability. There must be the desire for promise, and a strong reliable political position. Oftentimes, this scenario arises when there is mass dissatisfaction with the political, economical, or even social state of any given country. Given that fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology, it has many key aspects that make it such a powerful force. It values nationalism and expansionism, which promotes the use of force to reach any given goal. It also puts the state on a pedestal, meaning the state’s needs are often put ahead of individual needs and rights. Additionally, fascism relies on a dictatorial leadership style, by a leader who leans on the power of fear to gain national support. Many fascist leaders use manipulative strategies to win not only the support of the citizens of their country, but also gain their loyalty. Some of these strategies might include propaganda, the exploitation of fear, or the use of symbols to create a sense of loyalty. Propaganda and media control are extremely powerful tools, as they allow one leader to control the narrative an entire country is being told. Often, the opposition is portrayed as a threat to national security, while the leader is portrayed as strong and decisive, “Where speech is a right, propagandists cannot attack dissent head-on; instead they must represent it as something violent and oppressive…” (Stanley 37). The leader is also shown to be the country’s only chance of hope, which is completely possible since the government meticulously curates the nattitive told to the country. The reason fascism is so appealing at first is because of its simplicity. The leader can do no wrong, there is promise of stability and order, and there are no unknowns. In the past few years we have seen a rise in neo-fascist parties, many of which gained support after the Great Recession. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, who is a member of the Brothers of Italy party, was elected Prime Minister. Other examples include Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, who supported fascist groups during his presidency, and the Golden Dawn in Greece. The Golden Dawn is a neo-fascist party who has used political strategies similar to those of the Nazis. Given that all of these groups and leaders have gotten away with abusing fascist ideologies and strategies, it is important to be aware of what is happening in the United States. In our discussion, we talked about the fear of Donald Trump becoming a fascist leader. While this might sound outrageous at first, it is important to acknowledge that many fascist leaders gain their support slowly and implement their ideologies slowly, in a way that does not allow society to recognize at first. I do not think that it is productive to speculate about Trmp’s intentions, or characterize his leadership as fascist without hard evidence, as it could invalidate the decisions he makes. I think by comparing Trump to Hitler, his actions are no longer seen as evil and selfish, but rather a better version of Hitler’s decisions. By framing his objectively bad political decisions in such a way, we are, as a society allowing him to make a joke of his actions rather than taking accountability.

After reading my peer, Dolphin 315’s post, I can say that I was compelled by their point about how the media can be used in a very horrible way to mass manipulate society. I can agree with their initial statement about fascism being built off of the desire for stability in times of crisis and fragility. It was a big point made in my learning to question response as well, stating that a nation's fragility and economic decline often result in desperation for a solution. What makes fascism rise and continue to grow is what is crucial, the authoritative leaders in these cases will use tactics that they know will succeed in gaining political support - propaganda. My peer states, “As they allow one reader to control the narrative..often, the opposition is portrayed as a threat to national security, while the leader is portrayed as strong and decisive”. I find that interesting because I often think about how propaganda is used to promote the leader’s values and hide political issues. Though, this post has made me realize that in fascist societies, the opposition will be seen as dangerous and evil, when in reality it's the leader they praise that is the threat to society. The only tragedy of it all is that if the citizens were to ever realize and accept this truth, would be too late. The idea of being so deeply cultivated by this leader, its created a level of trust and even a sense of normality of this type of culture. I’ve noticed that other peers have had similar ideas when viewing other posts, Merry has a similar view of how “nationalism makes its way into a country in a state of vulnerability, it tends to very much so take hold of the citizens in that place because of its idea that their country is better than any other, despite its current flaws, and helps people to hold out hope that their country will become the prosperous nation they once were”. Arriving at the same conclusion of how compelling a leader can be as they promised future stability and change. Relating to the piece I used from an expert indication that political leaders will obtain support by appealing to the citizen's prejudice. Overall, I enjoyed reading this response by my peer Dolphin 315, regardless of how similar our ideas were, it bulletin my understanding of how Fascism has come alive.

Originally posted by KWR26 on December 04, 2024 09:06

Fascism manifests in a society where the government and people are simultaneously searching for solutions and someone claims to have them. When people are struggling and someone comes along with a group to blame for their struggles and promises to fix everything, you want to follow him. You want to follow the promises of a better future. For a society to be considered fascist it needs to have a strong centralized government and a scapegoat for societal issues. Someone to blame for all that is wrong in the world. It also needs a group that it sees as superior to all others, better than the rest. Often fascism singles in on one religion or race rather than nationality in order to pit the majority against the minority. People who find fascist ideology appealing are people who aren’t members of the minority scapegoats, people who benefit from the mistreatment of others and can build wealth or prosperity on the backs of those who are mistreated. In Nazi Germany, neighbors were willing to turn in neighbors to earn the favor of the government. Family members turned in brothers and sisters. These people were in desperate need to get ahead and fascism was their way of doing that. I don’t know if their are any nations currently facing neo-fascist eras. I think some nations have hyper nationalist governments and populations, however I think the closest thing to fascism we have today is the widespread popularity of inherently fascist groups like the KKK or Proud Boys. Who openly express their feeling that white people are the superior race and all other minorities including Blacks, Asians, Catholics, Jews, Gypsies, etc. are inferior to the white man. However with the rise of hyper nationalism around the world I fear that some nations may lean closer and closer to fascism and superior race theory and that may cause tensions around the globe to rise rapidly in the coming years as we see what happens through the presidency of Donald Trump and how the globe treats foreign affairs going forward. The only nation currently in a neo-fascist regime is Italy, “Despite its relative moderation as regards cooperating with the EU and running national economic policy, Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, whose roots are widely considered neofascist, qualifies as far right, populist and socially conservative.” and while this may seem bad I think that because it is still cooperating with EU countries and only has moderate control over the economy, we are safe from extreme fascism and hyper extremism from world government as of right now. The next 4 years will be very important in either the spread or diminishing of fascism worldwide and the world will be watching to see how the US and EU countries either combat or embrace hyper nationalist or nativist policies and countries. It will be interesting to see how Trump uses his control over government to operate the country and if he puts into place policies or practices that may be semi-fascist or nativist and how the country reacts to it.

Something that really speaks to me is the first sentence which speaks about the simultaneous occurrence of problems in a country, at the same time as someone claiming to have the answers. It is something I did not touch on in my response, but I think that was a very important part in the rise of fascism and the Nazis, as they were such a strong presence and virtually impossible to ignore. It is also impossible to ignore that, to an extent, some of their policies were successful and definitely improved the quality of like for some Germans. Something interesting this response touches on is the importance on geopolitics during the Trump area and in Europe, especially in Italy. I would disagree with the hasty qualification of Italy as fascist, and it being the only fascist republic, since it is such a blurry line, and fascism takes the shape of wherever it is. I also agree with the fact that right now, Italy is not such a massive threat due to its EU connections and economy. I would like to see this response go a bit more in depth in terms of these geopolitics and what it would take for a fascist regime to gain serious ground in international affairs, and what that would look like across the globe. Lastly, this response importantly notes the doubt and fear we may have with the Trump administration. I agree with this because although Trump is not a traditional fascist, he is extremely unpredictable and is power hungry. With his mass support seemingly blindly following him, I do worry what it will take for people to turn against him, if he truly does go down a fascist path, and what consequences that could have.

Originally posted by RW1107 on December 03, 2024 21:34

The key to fascism is the myth of the past. We all gravitate towards a world where we are better off than those around us, whether consciously or unconsciously. Our nature pushes us toward capitalistic systems that reward those at the top and punish those who cannot find their way up. Thus, when societies fall on economic hardships, we tend to wish for better times when things were stable and profitable. Fascist movements capitalize on this energy to provide the people with propaganda that they are the ones who can return them to the “glory days”. This often involves attacking minorities and others who these movements see as inferior to the majority of people in society. “Fascist politics invokes a pure mythic past tragically destroyed,” which allows for the movement to advocate for building that past up again, even if it never existed, by highlighting a small truth from the past (How Fascism Works 1). In order to have these movements, fascism requires an us vs. them mentality that pits one group against another to foster hatred. Hate is the only way that fascism gains a significant grip on society and an us vs. them situation allows for an increase in the violence and instability that fascism needs. Without hate and violence, there would be no need for a fascist society to advocate for law and order and take over.

People want to feel like they are safe, and fascist societies provide that safety while taking away individual rights. The lure of fascism is a return to traditional values, which include law and order and traditional familial roles, for example propaganda around women’s role in society. Many countries around the world are currently dealing with fascist movements/ideas gaining popularity, including Italy and South Korea. The recent events in South Korea highlight how a fascist power grab like martial law can quickly be enacted even if it lacks popular support. Giving powers like these to a President presents many risks for the stability of democracy and allowing for the people to have a voice. Hitler was able to succeed where the South Korean President failed though in that he used the Reichstag Fire to rally people to his side and gain enough popular support, whereas in South Korea they just tried to ram through the orders without the backing of the people. These movements take time to grow and evolve, just like what is happening in Europe. Over the years many European countries have begun to crack down on immigration, utilizing fascist policies that were based on an us vs. them mentality to do so. This is in contrast to the neo-liberal foreign policy of many of these nations, supporting Ukraine and free trade, while pursuing neo-fascist policies domestically. The rise of Trump certainly has included some fascist ideas, but Trump himself is not a fascist. The United States is too divided to allow for a fascist state, and though that can change, our history suggests that these movements cannot succeed because they go against the traditional American rights that people fight for.

I believe that the most compelling argument is likely the argument about hatred being the only way which an idea like fascism can truly rise up, and become as popular as we have seen it in the past. I agree with this argument considering the fact that the only times we have seen fascism truly succeed is when people look for a common enemy for their own prosperity. This post, along with many others, truly discusses the obsession with finding enemies in these societies, which stems from people’s desire to be considered the best of all time. My views are similar to the ones which I read in my peers post considering I fully agree with the arguments which they are making considering the heavy amounts of evidence to back all of these claims up. I also found these arguments about the current countries becoming relatively fascist to be very interesting considering it applies the relevance of this discussion to today. I also found the discussion about the leadership of current countries that could possibly become fascist in comparison to Hitler because I think it is a compelling topic to discuss due to the many directions in which the argument.