[Dialogue] 14 Characteristics

[hypnocenter]

Hi again. Here's a "not-so-funny" to add to the conversation. This
definition and assessment is too good to not pass along. This is a bit scary
if you stop, even for a moment, to think about it.

 

Fourteen Defining Characteristics of Fascism

 

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany),
Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin
American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

 

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make
constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other
paraphernalia. Flags

are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols  on clothing and in public
displays.

 

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies
and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that
human

rights can be ignored in  certain cases because of "need." The people tend
to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions,
assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

 

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are
rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a
perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities;
liberals; communists;

Socialists, terrorists, etc.

 

4.  Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic
problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government
funding,

and the domestic agenda is neglected.  Soldiers and military service are
glamorized.

 

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost

exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles
are

made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and

The state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

 

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the
government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by
government

regulation, or sympathetic media  spokes people and executives. Censorship,

especially in war time, is very common.

 

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by
the

government over the masses.

 

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined  - Governments in fascist nations
tend to use  the most common religion in the nation as a tool  to manipulate
public

opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government
leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically
opposed to the

government's policies  or actions.

 

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy

of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into
power,

creating a mutually beneficial business/government  relationship and power
elite.

 

10.  Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is
the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either
eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

 

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote
and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia.  It is not
uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested.
Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

 

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police
are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often
willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the
name of patriotism.   There is often a national police force with virtually
unlimited power in fascist nations.

 

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are

governed by groups of  friends and associates who appoint each other to

government positions and use governmental power  and authority to protect
their friends from accountability.   It is not uncommon in fascist regimes
for national

resources and even treasures to be appropriated  or even outright stolen by

government leaders.

 

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a
complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns
against or

even assassination of opposition candidates,  use of legislation to control
voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation  of the
media.

Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or
control

elections.

 

--The above is a summary of the more detailed original article

"Fascism Anyone?" - First published in Spring  2003 edition of Free Inquiry

 

 

 

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