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FASCISM AWARENESS DAY

WHAT IS FASCISM?

Fascism Awareness Day marks the anniversary of the creation of the first openly fascist political group on October 5, 1914, when the Fascio Rivoluzionario d'Azione Internazionalista (FRAI) released their manifesto in Italy. Two months later, on December 11, 1914, Benito Mussolini and his compatriots dissolved the FRAI and formed his first fascist party, the Fasci d'Azione Rivoluzionaria (FAR).

Following WWI, on March 23, 1919, Mussolini laid out the parameters of fascism and created the party Fasci Italiani di Combattimento at the Piazza San Sepolcro in Milan, Italy. Professor Stanley notes this date as the formal birth of fascism. 

ORIGIN AND GESTATION OF FASCISM

Inspired by the work of Jason Stanley, PhD.

Consider the following paragraph from the conclusion of an article written in the summer of 1941—before the United States entered the Second World War.
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"Kind, good, happy, gentlemanly, secure people never go Nazi...But the frustrated and humiliated intellectual, the rich and scared speculator, the spoiled son, the labor tyrant, the fellow who has achieved success by smelling out the wind of success—they would all go Nazi in a crisis." 

—Dorothy Thompson, "Who Goes Nazi?" August 1941 issue, Harper's Bazaar

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An invention of the 20th century, fascism grew out of the discontent of the Industrial Revolution in the late decades of the 19th century and the societal upheavals leading up to, during, and after the First World War. It could not have existed before due to the prerequisite necessity of a population's broad, active political participation in the political process—a precursor for fascism to take root in an ailing or nascent representative democratic, republican, or hybrid socialist system. Fascist platforms originate in right-wing, ultra-conservative movements.

During the early 20th century, fascist groups rose in opposition to communism, Marxism, democratic liberalism, and socialism. Initially, fascists also opposed capitalism but modified that belief as they evolved.

No fascist movement nor its leader can ascend to power without significant support, buy-in, and acquiescence from people at all levels of society, ranging from intellectuals, legal, media, and industry to labor and the working class. Because of this, most fascist movements never attain state power (level three of the five levels of fascism). The few that do wreak havoc, gut institutions of those who may oppose or constrain them, militarize and reorder society, and seek territorial expansion. Historically, once fascism achieves the fifth level, only outside military intervention stops it.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FASCISM

Generally, fascism coalesces around racial, religious, or nationalistic exceptionalism with a strong dose of historical idealization and mysticism. It is a mindset channeled into a social movement manifesting in extreme beliefs, grievance and victimhood. It percolates within intransient ideas as a paparazzi-infused cultish twist on the soliloquy of authoritarianism. Fascism is the antithesis of democracy, socialism and even communism.  

—VICTIMHOOD
Victimhood plays a central role in fascism. Its adherents believe their struggles, issues, financial problems, lack of love, or respect (name the grievance) are due to an identifiable outside force. Leadership, the media and social groups co-opted into the movement reinforce this feeling of victimhood and play on the anger. Because supporters perceive themselves as victims, they're always in heightened insecurity. As a movement, fascism thrives on this fight-or-flight atmosphere, banking on "us" versus "them," with heavy doses of self-justification, self-pity and rationalization.  

—SCAPEGOATING
The law and rights are for me, but not for thee—fascism requires the deliberate separation, persecution, or denial of equality based on superficial characteristics such as race, creed, political views, or origin. Scapegoating is a cousin of victimization. Common dehumanization terms include referring to "the other" as animals, vermin, insects, violent, unclean, childlike, unworthy, terrorists, savages, or aliens.  To the fascists, the "other" is a problem best solved by their absence or removal. Historically, targets include Indigenous people, immigrants, minority religions within the nation, non-heterosexuals, and minority ethnic groups aligned by race, creed, or color.  

—DEMOGOGRY
Fascist leaders foster a cult-like following. While authoritarianism and fascism demand absolute loyalty, power, and compliance, fascism thrives on spectacle and active social involvement, garnering widespread social support and admiration from its preferred group. In contrast, authoritarian leaders tend to engage in constrained and measured interactions, maintaining a closed circle of trusted individuals. Authoritarians typically appeal to one or two specific segments of society.

Fascism, on the other hand, appeals to people across all segments of society, requiring broad support to gain power in a struggling republic, democracy, or constitutional system rather than relying on brute force through military invasion or a coup.  

—APPEAL
People like to feel they are a part of something big and belong. Fascism, unlike authoritarianism, provides this collective social component. Skilled fascist orators sell their power piecemeal and appeal to people in various socio-economic groups. For one group, they are the savior of jobs. For another, the advocate of business; for another, the tool of a deity or higher purpose. This fiction is maintained, with each group continually fed by the media, government, and institutions with what it needs to hear to feel a part of and support the movement. 

Generally, intellectuals (academia, legal, medical, high-end professionals, and thought leaders) are the first to defect once the concaved theater of vacuous lies and false promises becomes too apparent to ignore. Unfortunately, by this time, they rarely have the rights, avenues of protest, or means to get back what they've lost and thought they were protecting.  

FIVE STAGES OF FASCISM

Inspired by the work of Robert O. Paxton, PhD, "The Five Stages of Fascism" (1998) 

How does fascism start, get into, and exploit power? Paxton refers to five stages, which are summarized below. 

Stage One—CREATION OF A FASCIST MOVEMENT
Fascism begins as a fringe movement driven by intellectual discontent and public frustration with liberal democracy. Small groups of dissidents voice a revolt against progressive ideals (e.g., "civil rights," "employee rights," "climate change") fueled by a belief in national decline. Though often limited in size, these early movements lay the ideological groundwork for future political action. Most fascist movements never move beyond this stage and are relegated to the fringes of society. However, if their grievances gain traction, they advance to stage two. 

Stage Two—ENTRENCHMENT IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
Fascist movements take root by exploiting political crises and gaining support from conservative elites who fear leftist influence. As liberal institutions falter, fascists present themselves as the only solution to restore order, often forming alliances with establishment powers like the military or business leaders. These unions legitimize the movement and allow it to enter mainstream politics, though not without internal tensions. Even fewer make it to this level, with most soundly defeated in elections. Their next goal is political power.  

Stage Three—ACQUISITION OF POWER
Fascists start small on the local levels and build a following through personality and grievance. Federal entrenchment is slightly easier with parliamentary governments than presidential systems, given that parliamentary governments form coalitions. On a national level, fascists enter power through democratic victory and/or via elite deals and political miscalculations during times of crisis. Once invited in, they quickly consolidated control using legal maneuvers and force, sidelining opposition and transforming limited authority into a complete dictatorship. This stage marks the pivotal shift from a political movement to an authoritarian regime. Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy are examples. The people who put them there do not matter now that they have the power. Unless they bend the knee, they, too, will be targeted. 

Stage Four—EXERCISE OF POWER
In exercising power, fascists govern the state and begin reshaping it into a one-party dictatorship, implementing core policies like militarization and repression. However, they do not rule with absolute autonomy; instead, they must negotiate with existing institutions, such as the military, church, and industry, that helped them gain power. Now, there is a "dual state" where traditional structures continue to operate alongside the fascist apparatus. Hitler and Mussolini compromised with elites to maintain support, shaping policy in ways that balanced revolutionary goals with established interests. Over time, the regime tightens its grip by eliminating opposition and centralizing power, paving the way for either further radicalization or stagnation in Stage Five. 

Stage Five—RADICALIZATION OR STAGNATION (ENTROPY)
Stage Five marks the final phase of a fascist regime, where it either intensifies or begins to fade. This stage follows one of two paths: radicalization or entropy. In radicalization, the regime grows increasingly extreme, striving to keep public enthusiasm alive through expansionist wars, repression, and even genocide. Nazi Germany is the prime example, escalating until its self-destruction through war and the Holocaust. Mussolini's Italy pursued conquest, notably in Ethiopia, to sustain its momentum. Entropy occurs when the regime loses revolutionary energy and settles into a more static, authoritarian rule. Fascist Italy eventually moderated, focusing on preserving elite power rather than pushing its radical ideals. Franco's Spain also reflects this path, evolving from fascist origins into a conservative autocracy that abandoned mass mobilization.

SEVEN STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL CONDITIONS
THAT FOSTER FASCISM

Drawn from Robert O. Paxton, PhD's, "Anatomy of Fascism" 

There are seven conditions in which fascism grows and prospers. Several, but not all, need to be present for fascism to gain a foothold. Authoritarian regimes often create these conditions to consolidate power if they do not exist. 

(1) Instability of Markets or Economic Uncertainty
Economic uncertainty often follows high inflation, trade wars, high debt, inability to access necessities including food, housing, and water, a lack of public funding or investment, and/or high unemployment. Economic uncertainty creates fear, a loss of security, and anxiety, emotions and situations that benefit fascist movements, which present themselves as the answer. 

(2) Large Disaffected Social Groups
"Large" isn't defined; however, fifteen percent is a number that marketers use to describe a significant demographic or trend. For illustrative purposes, consider that if fifteen percent of society feels or perceives itself left behind, unfairly treated, discriminated against, segregated, or otherwise excluded, there are enough disaffected like-minds to impact social and political movements. 

(3) Stripping of Rights and Wealth
This process targets predominantly middle-class and professional classes, particularly thought leaders in urban areas who might otherwise counter fascist ideologies. Stripping rights removes recourse for wrongs. Stripping wealth diminishes or eliminates the means to survive in society. Tools used include but are not limited to home demolitions, imposing eminent domain, forcing companies or organizations out of business, selective taxes, exclusionary laws, dismissals, and mass firings without cause.  

(4) Widespread Discontent
In addition to a specific disaffected group, within the society at large, one notes perceivable anger, frustration, and resentment, particularly within the working and middle classes, due to the economy, disappearing rights, minimized opportunities, and a lack of future security.  

(5) Publicly Accepted Hate
There is broad acceptance in society for targeting, denigrating, and sidelining minority groups or marginalized people. Common targets include immigrants, Indigenous people, the homeless, the disabled, non-heterosexuals, minority races, and minority religions.  

(6) Greed Over Resources
Whether land, rare minerals, fuel, or industrial assets, fascism seeks to concentrate its hold over resources through confiscations, forfeitures and territorial expansion.  

(7) Organized Propaganda
Lies are truth. Facts don't exist. Propaganda includes creating societal myths that glorify one group while vilifying another through misinformation and historical revision. Propagandistic messaging often seeks to elevate a mythical golden age that never existed. It also seeks to squelch public debate and terrorize journalists and academics who challenge the agenda. Paramount is demonizing any media or institution that will not regurgitate the lies, agenda, or mythology of the ruling power.

THE ROLE OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIETY IN CREATING FASCISM

Drawn from the work of Jason Stanley and Robert O. Paxton

The following is an abbreviated summary of how fascism integrates with economics and society. 

—BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY UNITY
Fascism merges corporate power with military and government authority, producing an economic system that benefits a powerful elite and intensifies internal rivalries that can lead to war. 

—CHAUVINIST DEMAGOGUERY AND CONFUSION
a) Appeals to prejudice—portrayed as patriotic—rally the public against a perceived threat.
b) "Facts" may be distorted through junk science, censorship, or revisionist history, creating an environment of cognitive dissonance. 

—ORGANIZED VIOLENCE
Fascist systems use intimidation—verbal or physical—to maintain control. They often emerge when a middle-class-dominated republic transitions into a dictatorship, typically benefiting a small elite. 

CONCLUSION
Fascism is not an aberration of the past, but a recurring political temptation that arises under specific social, cultural, and economic conditions. It feeds on fear, division, nostalgia, and the promise of national rebirth—offering simple answers to complex problems by scapegoating the vulnerable and concentrating power in the hands of a charismatic few. As history has shown, its danger lies not just in violence or spectacle, but in its slow, systematic erosion of democratic norms, rights, and institutions.

Recognizing the signs, understanding its roots, and challenging the social conditions that foster it are essential acts of civic responsibility. Fascism does not arrive with fanfare. It comes cloaked in promises—until it all at once demands obedience.

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Below is a partial list of sources contributing to this iteration. LD Lewis originally wrote this article in 2003 for her publication "Couples Company." In that article, Laurence Britt's "14 Points of Fascism" was included. However, this information has been removed from the current version of the article due to scholarship that has cast doubt on its conclusions. 

Sources and Additional Reading:  

•    Paxton, Robert O. "The Anatomy of Fascism" Random House, January 1, 2004
•    Paxton, Robert O, "The Five Stages of Fascism" (1998)
•    Hedges, Chris; Wong, Eunice. "American Fascists. The Christian Right and the War on America," Tantor Audio, June 5, 2007
•    Stanley, Jason. "Erasing History," Simon and Schuster, September 10, 2024
•    Stanley, Jason. "How Fascism Works. The Politics of Us and Them," Random House, September 4, 2018
•    Levitsky, Steven; Ziblatt, Daniel. "How Democracies Die" Random House, January 16, 2018
•    Larson, Erik. "In the Garden of Beasts," Random House, May 10, 2011
•    Levitsky, Steven; Ziblatt, Daniel. "Tyranny of the Minority" Random House, September 12, 2023
•    Chafkin, Max. "The Contrarian. Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of Power," Penguin, September 21, 2021
•    Jones, Robert P. "White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity," Simon and Schuster, July 28, 2020
•    Barlett, Donald L; Steele, James B. "The Betrayal of the American Dream," Gildan Media, LLC, September 12, 2012
•    Hedges, Chris. "America, The Farewell Tour," Simon and Schuster, August 21, 2018
•    Johnston, David Cay. "It's Even Worse Than You Think. What the Trump Administration is Doing to America," Simon and Schuster, January 16, 2018
•    Boyd, Greg. "The Cross and the Sword," Woodland Hills Church sermon series, April 18, 2004
•    Thompson, Dorothy. "Who Goes Nazi?" Harper's Bazaar, August 1941