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Author Topic: Agree or disagree: 14 defining characteristics of fascism [Locked]
Aerlinthian  4 stars
Posts: 2,126
Registered: 2001-5-7 23:53:38
So how are we doing? 14 for 14?

Quote:

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 to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople 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.


If you want sources: "14 defining characteristics of fascism"
bstulic  3 stars
Posts: 761
Registered: 2002-7-26 04:55:00
be it 13, 14 or 15, you rate high, and climbing

 

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__Bonk__  5 stars
Posts: 5,122
Registered: 2009-7-25 03:04:52
I think its more characteristics of dictatorship and authoritarian rule.

 

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Moe_Nox  4 stars
Title: In Moe We Trust
Posts: 1,962
Registered: 2007-2-4 12:17:56
1. No
2. Yes.
3. No
4. lol. Military service is glamorized? Hell we had to come a loooong ways just to keep troops from being spit on.
5. Same sentence claims to have both rampant sexism and then the state ensuring family harmony. Does not compute.
6. No
7. Tens of millions of illegal immigrants shows the majority is clearly not obsessed over it.
8. No
9. Yes
10. No. We have one of the highest living standards in the world, labor workers as well.
11. Academia has been pontified, not villainized.
12. Yes
13. Yes, but corruption is in all forms of government. Fascism is hardly its only home.
14. Meh. I think we are pushed along by the media in efforts to make us think one way or the other, towards candidates. Manipulated, yes. Fraudulent, no.

 

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Koneg  3 stars
Title: Evil Genius
Posts: 894
Registered: 2001-12-4 15:31:28
Aerlinthian posted:

Agree or disagree: 14 defining characteristics of $ISM



Solve for $ISM

 

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Eternal_Midnight  2 stars
Posts: 424
Registered: 2000-5-11 13:44:32
Funny, I remember this list from when Bush was president.

 

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Abaddon_Ambrosius  4 stars
Title: Retired Theurgist TL
Posts: 1,674
Registered: 2001-12-21 09:51:39
Eternal_Midnight posted:

Funny, I remember this list from when Bush was president.



So do I.

And I don't find it terribly funny.

 

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"God you guys suck at the internet - how can you fail to locate porn?!" - Eternal_Midnight
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vn_nnanji  4 stars
Title: Outpost Music Expert
Posts: 1,964
Registered: 2001-6-30 17:22:56
Or accurate.

Many of those are broad and could be laid at the feet of every nation that ever existed. It proves nothing.

When you live under a fascist dictator Arglebargle, I'm pretty sure you will know it.

Here's one test: You won't be able to be a big whiney crybaby pretending he lives in a fascist state, babbling platitudes about "The State". There really would be "The State", and they would rape your wife and kill your children while you watched.

When that happens you can pretty much bet you've gotten your wish to live in a fascist dictatorship.

Some moron living free in Iowa osmething crying about fascism. Go visit a North Korean work camp, then get back to me sparky.

 

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Aerlinthian  4 stars
Posts: 2,126
Registered: 2001-5-7 23:53:38
LOL, somebody didn't like their no-no spot getting touched.
smellymotor  3 stars
Posts: 519
Registered: 2004-9-12 04:15:23
ive always said strong labour unions are an essential part of democracy and ensuring freedom

 

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smellymotor
Young and Free

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