Fascism in the Modern Age
I think that the characteristics needed in a society to be considered fascist are suppression of the press, racial bias/blame, and extreme government control. I think the characteristics that represent the most danger to regular people are extreme government control and suppression of the press. Typically racial minorities are blamed for problems in the state, which many normal people ignore. Government control and suppression of the press can limit freedom, spread propaganda, and generally create a sense of confusion that is dangerous to normal people. While I do not think that the United States is currently a fascist state, some signs can be interpreted as similar to previous fascist states, like the blaming of minority groups, as well as increased policing and more control of the press. I also think there are various nations around the globe that are ethnically cleansing minority groups, eliminating free press, and imprisoning people who disagree with their regime. I think fascist characteristics are appealing to many as they are able to blame societal problems on minority groups, even when it is false, and fills them with a sense of hope and recognition. In Ur- Fascism by Umberto Eco, he states that "For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, a 'life for struggle.' Pacifism is therefore collusion with the enemy; pacifism is bad, because life is a permanent war. This, however, brings with it an Armageddon complex: since the enemy can and must be defeated, there must be a last battle, after which the movement will rule the world. Such a final solution implies a subsequent era of peace, a Golden Age that contradicts the principle of permanent war. No Fascist leader has ever managed to resolve this contradiction". He states how in a fascist state, problems are blamed against a group, and once this goal of eliminating the "enemy" is completed, they will return to a golden age, where current societal issues no longer exist. These issues can include economic depressions, lack of resources, and more. The current climate of the US is different from other fascist states that we have as we have democratic elections, freedom of the press, and a capitalist economy. In fascist states, the government controls press, economic output, and elections are eliminated or rigged so that it seems that they have popular support. I think that our democratic society is not immune to fascist ideology however, as it is easy for many to blame issues we have in our society on others, and look to a past time as a golden age to return to. I don't think however that right leaning political movements are inherently fascist, as many policies focus on things other than increased government control and immigration, but it is a focus of their policy. In the past, right wing political movements have accomplished good things and have had effective policy, but historically the country has experienced more violence and economic depressions during right wing governments as compared to left wing.