learntoquestion ltq discussions

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 find the most compelling idea in your post is the notion that fascism emerged during times of societal vulnerability, mainly when there are times of economic crisis and a lack of national identity. I agree with this idea, history has shown that fascist ideologies thrive when people feel insecure about either their future or own identity. Another interesting point is that fascist leaders are able to exploit the fears of the people by offering simplistic solutions to big problems. The connection you drew between the economic crisis and the rise of fascism demonstrates a historical pattern that can still be applied to today.

Another thing I found interesting was how you talked about populism and nationalism and how it appeals to fascist rhetoric. This can be seen when you bring up how Hungary shifted toward a “illiberal democracy,” as well as the debates around Donald Trump's populism. This makes your post very well applied to current events. I agree that outright fascism is rare, and the neo-fascist tendencies you mention are cruel to witness. I think you could have elaborated more on the “us. Vs them” narrative. I think more concrete examples could be in order. Overall this is a great post that is insightful and interesting.

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 mostly agree with you that fascist governments use the messaging ‘we will bring it (the state) back to how great it was’. This message as you say also deals with a want for security which comes from a society’s hatred and instability. Personally I disagree with the claims that South Korea is drifting towards fascism. The reason that the South Korean President has martial law is because of the fact that they are at war with North Korea who has historically been and is very aggressive. In this case President Yoon, a conservative president of North Korea enacted martial law for no reason, this a more of a failed coup rather than a fascist takeover. The comparison between Italy and South Korea isn’t exactly correct. SOuth Korea had a conservative ruling coalition and the president went rogue. Italy voted in a right coalition as well and has implemented some hateful conservative policies but hasn’t had a dictator or dictator attempt. What differentiates many of the example countries you listed are which Fascist boxes they have checked off – like South Korea and Italy. The United States is very polarized and there is a growing us vs. them sentiment. The USA also has a populist far right movement. However, there is a large opposing political party and there is no governmental military suppression or dictator. Both you and I agree that the rise of these ideas are concerning as more boxes may be checked off if these movements continue to grow.

Originally posted by make_art_not_war on December 04, 2024 23:12

The manifestation of fascism in a society is typically a reaction to economic, social, or political instability. The case of WWII Germany is a prime example of the causes that lead to the development of facism. Germany at this time exemplified characteristics of economic, social, and political instability. Economic instability, such as extreme inflation and unemployment that the Germans faced due to the Versailles treaty, causes a sense of disillusionment towards the government among the citizens. This disillusionment leads these citizens to seek out radical solutions for the problems that the current government is seemingly unable to solve. Political dysfunction can also cause disillusionment; in the case of Weimar republic Germany the plethora of political parties but ineffectiveness of the institutions already in place caused Germans to have a weakened sense of trust for the government. Existing social issues, such as historic antisemitism and humiliation due to the loss of a war, in combination with charismatic leadership and propaganda machines can manipulate ordinary citizens fears and insecurities about society, leading them to believe a militarized state that unites in nationalistic ideals would be a more effective government than democratic institutions.

The centralization and militarization of a state that focuses on nationalistic ideals and the scapegoating of a group of people characterize fascist societies. Fascist regimes often control all areas of life including entertainment, radio, newspaper, etc through the use of violence and propaganda. The scapegoating of one group of people is also a key aspect of fascist society. The the case of Nazi Germany Jewish people were viewed as “other.” This othering of certain ethnic groups provides a justification for the turmoil that the society might be facing as well as a point of unification for the nation as they come together in their hatred of this group.

Individuals might find fascist ideology initially appealing because of their strong desire for economic, political, and/or social change. In societies that are facing intense struggles in these areas the citizens become so desperate for change that they are willing to support radical alternatives that would not necessarily lead to positive outcomes. Fascism often starts as a false promise for security, clarity, and revival which would seem appealing to a society facing chaos. It is, however, important to note that the promises of the fascist regimes are not successful in fact they only exacerbate the conditions in the region, as seen with Germany and the start of a second world war.

Many might argue that there are several nations that are experiencing what could be considered a neo-fascist era, in fact some state that the US itself might be experiencing it with the transfer of power. Just as in Weimar Germany many nations today continue to face economic, social, and political problems, such as inflation, increased cost of living, protection of minority rights, and immigration crises. In The Guardian’s article “How Europe’s Far Right is Marching Steadily into the Mainstream” Jon Henley states, in regards to modern day Germany, that “Opinion polls suggest that at the national level – faced with inflation, recession, rising refugee numbers and a fractious coalition government – voters favour the xenophobic, anti-Islam AfD more than the chancellor, Olaf Scholz’s, Social Democrats.” Xenophobic and Islamophobic ideas within Germany can be exploited by political parties. This exploitation would lead to the formation of an “outgroup” as well as the presentation of the new political party as an alternative to the disliked government already in power.

The most interesting idea in my peer’s post is the different instabilities of the economic, political factors, and social problems like antisemitism around Germany and in general which led to fascist regimes. I agree that fascism often happens in times of crisis, as people who are vulnerable and marginalized often navigate toward ideologies which promise security, and give people a sense of hope. The analogy to the rise of neo-fascist movements in modern times, particularly the rise of xenophobic parties in Europe is also compelling, which shows how the factors which led to fascism are still relevant till this day. The comparison with Weimar Germany shows how economic hardship, political problems, and social divisions can lead to scapegoating for certain groups. The point about fascist regimes exploiting social divisions and leading to an “outgroup” being created is still relevant today. I found it interesting how it was said how political parties in Germany exploit fears around issues such as immigration, economic recession, and the increase of costs of living, which show how fascist movements today can manipulate people because of what they are afraid of. I agree with this post, as fascism can relate to instability. One aspect I would add based on my beliefs is how social media leads to fascist movements as well, and how propaganda plays a major role. I feel as if the post was overall clear and well written, and had many similar points of views!

Originally posted by Kvara77goat on December 04, 2024 08:09

“Fascist politics invokes a pure mythic past tragically destroyed. Depending on how the nation is defined, the mythic past may be religiously pure, racially pure, culturally pure, or all of the above.” This is an excerpt from Jason Stanley’s novel How Fascism Works-The Politics of Us and Them. However, the notion of a mythic past is not the only characteristic of a fascist society–after all, Greece or Egypt have a much more “mythic past” compared to Germany, and we would not consider those countries fascist. That leads to the point that a fascist society cannot arise without a complete sense of disrepair in the country with great class divides and a hatred of a certain group, be it based on religion, class, race, or a combination of the three. In Nazi Germany, there was an extreme economic crisis, where the value of the German mark rose by one trillion times its original value within five years. In addition, A fascist society must have a strong dictator and extreme nationalism and an unwavering sense of country over individual. There is also a sense of hate towards minorities and others, and a sense of wanting to bring back a former glory. Fascism is easily accepted in times of uncertainty since it provides a strong and powerful group and a sense of unity. It is much easier to accept a fascist group, because if one doesn’t, they are seen as the enemy and part of the out group. In the case of the Nazi’s, they can be imprisoned, tortured, and killed.

And yes, fascism can certainly be appealing, especially in tough times. It brings a sense of unity, the fight for a common cause, and newfound strength and belief in one's country. For Germany, especially after the humiliation of World War I, this feeling was welcomed and extremely important to German citizens, especially veterans. As I mentioned before, the Nazis rose to power at a perfect time for them, a time of complete German chaos. Their extreme policies were seen as a sign to fix the country by many, and by the time they escalated, there was no stopping them.

As horrible as the Nazis were, the human race is not done with fascism. Some nations are definitely experiencing fascist tendencies which we have seen in the past. A major theme is a focus on preventing immigration, thus preserving a “master/dominant race.” We have seen it right here in the United States, as the deportation of some 13 million immigrants is a policy which our president elect ran on (and that idea clearly has support). Outside of the United States, the emphasis on halting immigration has become more popular in Europe as well. It is often based on a fear of losing our cultural identity and nationalism. The article “Populist, Nativist, Fascist” explains this phenomenon: “Nativism is the belief that “states should be inhabited exclusively by members of the ‘native group’, and that ‘non-native elements’ fundamentally threaten the homogeneous nation state. That explains the core focus on immigration of radical right parties such as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) in France, Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, Vox in Spain or Fidesz in Hungary.”

Another characteristic of fascism that I did not previously mention is the emphasis on information, notably the hiding of information and the spreading of false information. The Nazis had a minister of propaganda, and gave everyone a radio so that they could listen to the latest Nazi controlled news. They also burned books which they considered dangerous. In America, news hosts and politicians spread conspiracy theories, and social media is full of conspiracies and harmful stereotypes. The American right, for the most part, has attempted to ban many books recently, with the number of challenged titles increasing to over 4,000 in 2023 alone.

I think that the most compelling idea in this post is the importance of propaganda and the control of the media to the regime. I thought it was interesting how you showed the parallel between the ministry of propaganda during the Nazi regime and many of the things that are currently happening in the Us regarding book bans, social media, etc. I had not thought of this connection before however I do agree that there are certainly similarities and recognizing these similarities is important in our modern context.

I noticed that the idea that facism is a perceived solution to desperate times was part of many other posts and I believe that this is very important to understanding why facism rises and possibly preventing it in the future. If we can notice that economic, social, and political turmoil is what causes facism we can also recognize which states are most susceptible to it.

I agree with many of the ideas in this post. I would say that ideas that facism is created in a struggling society, that it relies on the scapegoating of a minority group, and that it employs propaganda in maintaining power are the most important points in this post.

Overall this post was very well written and the ideas were well thought out and explained in depth. Some suggestions I would make are that the writing could have been a bit more concise and rewording sentences would help with better understanding the ideas. Another suggestion would be that when citing a quote you should not only state the name of the article but also the source that it comes from and the name of the author.

Originally posted by riversky127 on December 04, 2024 09:07

Fascism is, at its core, an excuse for people to avoid real issues in their lives and accept the persecution of others as a byproduct of national advancement. For fascism to be present in a society, the most important first step is fear, and a person or government that is able to harness that fear to their advantage. In times of struggle, people are more likely to turn to radical change, especially when they feel powerless at their current status, and history has proven that nothing unites people better than a common enemy. More often than not, fascist regimes target a group which takes up a very small portion of the population, and in reality pose a negligible threat, if any, to the national identity. Strategiously, this makes sense, as it is generally much easier to fear and hate someone you don’t know, and a group with less prevalence will have a much harder time fighting back against the majority. At the start of World War II, Jews made up around 0.75% of the population, and already had very little power to enact change in society. Additionally, a crucial aspect of facism comes from the belief that one racial or ethnic group is fundamentally superior to another, and therefore has the right to elevate themselves at the cost of the “other.” According to Ziegler, “At the center of the anti-enlightenment lies the idea that humans are all different, should not be treated equally, should not be handled according to their deeds, and should not be respected as individuals” (Ziegler, 2021, p.24). Facism requires people to not only ignore the flaws with this idea, but fully believe its claim. This leads to ideas such as social darwinism and eugenics, in which people fear not only the actions of another group but the very makeup of their genetics. And this belief, one way or another, inevitably leads to genocide. But facism cannot be executed all at once. It requires gradual, calculated steps, which deter people from fighting back, even when they don’t support the change. By going step by step, fascist regimes force people to adjust to the new “normal,” rather than see it as radical change. Then, by the time people see how much things have changed, it's already too late. In the article No Time to Think, a college professor reflects on his experience with this, explaining, “when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed.” Fascism takes fear, it takes anger, and it takes apathy. In that sense, there are clear signs of the threat of fascism in our world today. Many nations in recent years have seen an increase in right-wing ideology, and common public fears surrounding immigration and threats to national identity. While our world is drastically different than it was in WWII, patterns in our history have shown that we are in no way immune. On the other hand however, it’s difficult to discern whether the changes we are experiencing are in line with the general wave back and forth between left and right political systems, or whether they are something bigger. Looking at the US, many people would consider Trump to be a fascist, while others see him as a joke with no real threat (although this was also how Hitler and Moussilini were widely viewed). There is undoubtedly rising polarization and tension between people in the country, which is arguably the real threat, rather than any individual, such as Trump. Given enough anger and fear between people, fascism becomes almost inevitable, though it’s unclear if our country is headed towards that today.

The most compelling idea is that fascism is an escape for people unwilling to face their own issues. I agree with this idea because I think a lot of people in Nazi Germany didn’t want to acknowledge that their country and their government had a lot of issues surrounding the economy and infrastructure. My views are similar to the overall post on multiple different issues including being unsure of where our country is headed today. I think that it is a time of uncertainty and many people probably hold a view of confusion towards the state of our nation and what the state of our nation will be over the next 4 years. I also agree that polarization is more of a threat than Donald Trump himself because of the fact that political views are widely becoming more and more extreme and the loss of moderates on both sides is creating increasingly widening social tensions and some violence that should be a wake up call to both parties that we need to fix something. I also agree that if the country becomes divided enough and social tensions continue to rise people will began to shift closer to fascism as a means to hold control and see themselves as the superior side of their argument.

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

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.

This post offers a thoughtful look at fascism, especially how fear of change leads people to embrace fascist ideas. The most convincing point is how people afraid of losing their status or way of life are more likely to fall into fascist movements. I agree with this idea because it helps explain why some individuals fear progress, such as equal rights for women, people of color, or LGBTQ+ groups. They see it as a threat, and fascism exploits that fear. The idea that fascism is based on a "zero-sum" mindset—where any progress for one group is seen as a loss for another-is especially important in today's political discussions about identity and rights.

Another strong point is the view that people in fascist movements are not evil, but often manipulated by their fears. I agree with this because it suggests that instead of labeling people as "bad," we should try to understand their concerns and find common ground. Calling people "deplorable" or "evil" only makes it harder to have a productive conversation.

However, the post could go a bit deeper in explaining how we can tell the difference between regular conservative views and actual fascism. Giving examples of this would strengthen the argument. Overall, it's a strong and thoughtful post, but adding more detail could make it even clearer.

Originally posted by shirleytemple on December 03, 2024 18:19

Fascism manifests in societies for multiple different reasons. It forms from harsh authoritarianism and nationalism. It comes from the idea of racial purity and superiority. It also can stem from the idea of the Manifest dynasty, which relates to the concept of racial superiority. The Manifest Dynasty is the idea that god sent certain people to conquer land. It was seen with Americans in the 1800s. However, just because a society believes they have a purpose to conquer does not mean that the society is fascist. This leads to important aspects of a fascist society that most would argue are necessary for a society to be considered fascist. These aspects include intense nationalism, obsession with enemies within, glorification of past and ethnicity, and lack of human rights. Obsession with nationalism and worshiping the leader to the point where the country is seen almost as a cult is most important because it shows a growing dictatorship and loss of democracy, like in Nazi Germany where the polls were pretty much rigged to guarantee a win for a fascist leader. The idea that not all people are equal, and that one group is superior to another; resulting in violence and lack of human rights. In Psychology of Fascism: “At the center of the anti-enlightenment lies the idea that humans are all different, should not be treated equally, should not be handled according to their deeds, and should not be respected as individuals. (This idea) stresses the determinate role of either the ethnic, religious or cultural background. The attack on the enlightenment revels in the denial of the unity of the human race. It degrades the roles of freedom and individual human rights and promotes national myths and legends. For a nation state what is considered to be blood is more important than citizenship. This leads to a general attitude against immigration.” It is important to note that it is hard to classify a society as fascist because of the terms' broad meaning and interpretation. It can take many forms and no case of it is the same (see Spain vs. italy’s facism). Fascism is appealing to people because it serves as a way out of hard times, since it usually sparks during times of crisis (like with Hitler, Germany was in major inflation and their country was declining). It is also appealing because it allows people to have decisions made for them, and not have to think for themselves. This is seen with the idea of mass followers and leads into the bystander effect. People are afraid to stand up because they think their lives will improve. Therefore they start to rely on authority to make the decisions and in the end lose the freedom to choose. Some nations could be considered neo-fascist, like North Korea where their dictatorship and independence is drastically growing, and the idea that they are better than everyone else. The same goes for Russia and Putin with the missiles, believing they deserve to have Ukraine and utilize their military strength. While it could be argued that Trump is a fascist, that doesn’t mean that the US itself is a fascist country and therefore shouldn’t be classified as one. The word has been commonly thrown around as an insult and is losing meaning due to that. Fascism is never the same for one country, and takes so many forms that it is hard to identify it, which makes it so dangerous.

The most compelling idea from this post is that fascism doesn’t have to follow one set of definitions in order to be considered, so there can be multiple meanings to the word that apply differently in different places. Though we may see fascist ideas take hold in certain places around the world today, we cannot draw a straight line between these ideals and the actions of the past like in Nazi Germany. No two movements are the same, and even though societies may have certain components of fascism like nationalism and glorification of the past, not all do. The example they give of Russia is key to this argument, because even though Russia has most of the components of fascism they are still based on a communist ideology from before. What separates a country from dictatorship and fascism is key, because fascism is when you can turn a dictatorship’s powers on a population in order to make your country stronger. That is exactly what Putin is doing to Ukraine, and yet he is failing at rallying his people around the common enemy because of their shared history. Not all societies are able to embrace this style of fascism, like as the post says for the United States. The US is based on freedom and protection of the minority, and though fascism takes many forms, it cannot influence the embedded ideals of the United States.

Originally posted by Merry on December 03, 2024 22:01

Fascism tends to manifest itself into societies which are in a time of crisis, due to its authoritarian and nationalistic roots. Nationalism was a very prominent driving factor for the manifestation of fascism into societies in a state of crisis because of its idea of national superiority and strength. When 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. Therefore, people easily get mesmerized by the fascist ideas which promise prosperity. However, the authoritarianism aspect doesn’t come off as beneficial for the citizens as the idea of national prosperity does, but people are too distracted by everything happening in the country to realize the change in their government to realize the issue a lot of the time, or they just choose to neglect it. People initially found the fascist ideas appealing due to this idea of prosperity. For a society to be considered fascist it needs to have characteristics such as a dictatorship, enforcement of centralized ideas, censorship of outside ideas, social hierarchies that are very prominent within communities, and a centralized autocracy. Another reason which people find fascism to be appealing is because it gives people the opportunity to take out their countries' issues on a common enemy, typically one which they have held prejudice against for years prior, and one that makes up a very small portion of the population. These hateful movements are also usually led by larger more powerful groups of people as evidenced by the quote “The strong and powerful are simply admired” whereas “the weak and helpless were hated and despised.” This quote also displays the lack of reason which people had in their hatred towards minorities, that wasn’t solely based on the fact that they were different. There are in fact countries in today’s society which are seeming to experience neo-fascism. One major example of this being the country North Korea. This is evidenced by the dictatorship forcing North Korean citizens to follow Kim Jong Un, religiously even making it a requirement to have photos of him in their homes at all times, filtering media, isolation of citizens from the outside world, and heavy oppression of opposition. All of these factors combined display to everyone across the world an example of neo-fascism in our society. Another example of a neo-fascist country in today's society is Russia. This is due to its heavy militarism, and suppression of opposition. As we have seen, Russia is heavily prideful in their military and the size and power of it. These are both very well known aspects of fascist societies as seen throughout history. These aspects are also very heavily influential ones seeing as a strong military can often create a sense of patriotism or nationalism in a country, therefore reinforcing their faith in fascist ideas, creating this endless cycle of fascist beliefs being followed by citizens.

Your post makes a rather interesting analysis of why fascist regimes rise to power when there are crises, particularly since it depends on nationalism and promises of prosperity. The strongest point made here would be related to how nationalism thrives in victimized societies through ideologies of dominance and resurgence. I agree with this view because history is full of examples of how nationalism may unite people around the restoration of their country's greatness at the expense of not recognizing the rise of authoritarianism. What really makes the idea interesting is how emotional appeals, pride, and hope may be used to replace rational judgment in times of crisis.

The idea that propaganda and media control in the perpetuation of fascist ideologies goes nice with your discussion of censorship and the suppression of dissent. These tools reinforce nationalism at the same time as any opposition is stifled. It is an environment within which authoritarianism thrives.

I do share your view on the issue of nationalism, which is a critical driver of fascism. In my view, economic instability and fear have also played an important role in making societies more susceptible to such authoritarian solutions.

To strengthen your post, consider including more detailed examples, particularly regarding neo-fascism in contemporary contexts. While your points about North Korea and Russia are valid, incorporating specific policies or events would add depth. Additionally, further linking modern examples to historical patterns would enhance the discussion.

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 fulfil. 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.

I found the most compelling point in your response to be that fascism is “gripped by fear and uncertainty” and can often seem to offer very simple solutions to complex problems. A lot of what you mention echoes the ideas of many other LTQ responses, as well as my own, in the sense that fascism flourishes when large-scale insecurity exists in a nation. This is undeniably evident in the case of Germany and the Weimar Republic - people were uncertain and fearful and fascist ideologies somewhat appeased these concerns. Fostering a sense of national unity also plays a large role in the success of fascism, as you mentioned, as it made it easier for people to blame others for their country’s internal challenges. I liked how you tied some of this sentiment back to the social psychology idea of humans’ tendency to categorize ourselves in “us vs. them” groups. I think that it’s certainly important to recognize that as it offers some explanation as to why fascism may be so appealing. I found your ideas on the polarization and division that exists within America to be very intriguing. I do question, however, whether democracy truly is stable at this point in time, and if it grants our country some form of immunity against fascism. It would have been interesting to hear more of your thoughts on neo-fascist regimes that exist in our world today, as well as what alt-right movements you believe share similarities with fascism. Overall, great analysis!