What is a Fascist, Really?
The best place to start is with an academic definition of the word. The Columbia Encyclopedia defines fascism as "the totalitarian philosophy that glorifies the state and nation and assigns the state control over every national life." It goes on to say that the word use first used by Mussolini in 1922, although it comes from the Latin word "fasces" ( which is the word for a bundle of wooden dowels tied together with an axe sticking out of it; a fasces was carried by the Roman equivalent of the Secret Service). The fasces was a symbol of power in unity. Surprisingly, it can be found embedded within few U.S. symbols. When Mussolini commandeered the term, however, the negative connotations followed.
The primary feature of fascism is the state's total control over every individual under that state's jurisdiction. A fascist nation or fascism supporter has to exhibit both elements. Using this definition, the use of the word in American politics is incorrect. For example, many people call President Bush a fascist for any number of his activities. However, a look at his record low approval ratings shows that he is failing miserably if he indeed intends to follow in Mussolini's footsteps. Others try to paint former Vice President Al Gore as a Fascist for his environmental ideals. Again, Gore, like Bush, lacks the total control of every American citizen that entails a true fascist. Watch CNN and you will see that neither politician can even rally the total support of their political party-they can forget about controlling the nation.
Although playing the fascist card can make headlines in politics today, the public should be aware of the word's true meaning before making any voting decisions in the next election. Being called a fascist is one thing. Trying to actually reincarnate the ideals of Mussolini is quite another.
Published by Jonita Davis
Jo Davis is a freelance writer, author of both fiction and nonfiction. Online bylines include USA Today Travel and Connect ED, along with thousands of other web content clips. Davis's fiction credits include... View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentDon't let the haters get you down - you did a fine job recognizing that fascism doesn't mean Republican.
Great first paragraph, but downhill from there. What is the Columbia Encyclopedia? I've never heard of it. I'd go with Merriam-Webster's "a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control."
To add, one thing that is not fascist are the "Islamo-Fascists" they are missing a critical component, corporatism. They are theocrats pushing thenomic culture. Evangelical movements in the U.S. however, qualify under fascist definitions as they support the corporate anti-worker policies of the Bushies..
Your definition of fascism misses some critical points. First, fascism does not require control of every portion of a persons life. Remember, before the war turned bad for them, life was pretty good for those who went along in Nazi Germany (unless you were Jewish, gay, gypsy, etc) Rampant nationalism, corrupt and corporate government, secrecy, mixing of religion and politics, all are ascribed to fascist regimes. Demonization of enemies (real and imagined) at home and abroad is also important. The entire Bush family has been fascist for generations.
Eric: Now really, Eric, there are far too many calling Bush a fascist to put us all in jail. He'd need tens of thousands of Gitmos to do that.
Cantankerous: LOL!
Callie: The great thing about language is that words evolve, e.g., fascism has evolved to mean more than just Mussolini's mess. That doesn't make the use of the word in other contexts incorrect.
Steve-- I believe Pinn was being tongue-in-cheek sarcastic
You had a good start, Callie. But Deconstructionist is right. You could have written much more and really had a great article. For a primer, not bad. For a full length explanation you need to be a whole lot more thorough. I hope you'll do some more research and write some more about this! :)
The political theory of Fascism existed a long time before Mussolini, a little more research and a better understanding of Fascism would help your writing a lot.
Hitler was a fascist, Pinn - Nazism was just a particular kind of fascism
Eric brings out a point I just made in a recent article I just wrote myself that acts as a checklist for oppression. Of course, people will constantly turn their head the other way and deny basic realities, while writing books calling for the president's ousting...while not being purged by government special forces.