Let's define fascism - Because every thread is a new definition

[mindlessobserver]

I have been trying for some time to get a solid definition for what fascism is that can be boiled down to one or two sentences. The term is bandied about and applied so liberally I feel nobody actually knows. This thread is to try and get that solid definition. No, this is not an endorsement of the ideology, just a sincere effort to define it so it can be identified.

So here is my best stab at a one sentence attempt.

Fascism is the belief in an organized and authoritarian society where every portion of it from the individual to the government is controlled by a subjective narrative that defines all reality according to the dictates of the governing party.

 

[PlasticOwls]

Trump

 

[AnOminous]

Fascism adopted the fasces as its symbol.

It symbolizes the fundamental ideology of fascism, which is that individually, we are weak and easily broken, like twigs, but together, we form a mighty faggot.

 

[Rand /pol/]

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it's a merger of State and corporate power."

"All within the state,
nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."

-Mussolini

Fascism would seem to be the merging of state and corporate powers for the betterment of the nation, with an incredibly Militaristic, Nationalist, and Chauvinist society (kind of like in Starship Troopers).

 

[HG 400]

a solid definition for what fascism is that can be boiled down to one or two sentences.

You mean like the first sentence of the wikipedia article on it?

 

[PantsFreeZone]

Fascism, in 2018, is the authoritarian approach to political identity. It is found in the penalizing or de-platforming of individuals for "wrongthink" or differing political opinions and/or personal beliefs that fall outside the collective echo chamber of the mainstream progressive agenda.

Also:

 

[OhGoy]

everyone who disagrees with me is a fascist

 

[GreenJacket]

They like to dress up in black and overthrow governments...

Now where have I heard that before?

 

[DeadwastePrime]

when the parents of teenagers tell them to go to bed because it's 3 am in the morning and the teens dont want to because they wanna listen to their lofi hip hop 24/7 music stream while writing that book in google docs for wattpad before playing the sims NO MOM THIS ISNT A WASTE OF MY LIFE. THIS IS SERIOUS WORK!

 

[nanny911]

Fascism is a vague political term which can encompass a range of authoritarian ideologies on both sides of the spectrum.

Far-right wing authoritarianism is corporatism, where corporations buy candidates, news networks, and smaller businesses to propagate their agenda.

Spoiler

So basically what Disney is doing.

 

[mindlessobserver]

You mean like the first sentence of the wikipedia article on it?

The first sentence of the wiki page is garbage. It summarizes was Fascism DID, not what it IS. Hell the entire wiki page is essentially a summary of result and not cause. Hence this thread. Having a passing interest in political philosophy myself, I have realized I was never actually introduced to fascist philosophy in my University education. I got communism, romanticism, objectivism, rationalism, jingoism, nationalism, nativism, pretty much every ism there is. Except fascism.

Which is unfortunate considering the stupendously horrific impact this brand of political philosophy has had on history. I would not even care, yet the constant desire to label things as fascist in common political debate means an actual explanation of fascist philosophy is required. It cannot be avoided, especially since there is a determined effort to accuse people with contrarion opinions of being fascists by so many.

 

[Piss Clam]

I'm fascist because I don't believe in a large central government and believe in empowering the individual.

Which is unfortunate considering the stupendously horrific impact this brand of political philosophy has had on history.

I think communism has had a bigger impact than any Italian or German government in the 1930's.

 

[Dr. Boe Jangles Esq.]

Things Fascism Is:
A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such 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.

Things Fascism is Not:
Republicanism, conservative social policy, Pepe memes, not liking gays, being refused a state funded sex change, the idea that people should have to work a job to make money, a disregard for soft science and pop sociology culture theories, or internet trolls.

Fascism is actually a specific term referring to a specific thing. It is currently used in place of "conservative", "religious", "nationalist", or "fundamentalist" because those terms, while far more accurate, don't have as much punch when put into a facebook post.
We have reached a point in which people want to use words and ideas they barely understand to express their rather benign political views in such a way as to imply that theirs is the only view possible without losing an imagined battle for the soul of the country.

The reality is that, charged as things may seem right now, we are no closer or further from actual fascism than we've ever been. Most of the current issues people fight over have been fought over for generations. The only thing that's really changed is that we're far more hysterical and alarmist about what amounts to a handful of benign wedge issues.

 

[skiddlez]

It's another one of those words that has lost all meaning with time, much alike "literally" and "ironic." I wouldn't look into it too much because there's no point, but as far as I know, this is basically the old definition in a nutshell.

The old definition of fascism is a governing style of complete central authority with a ruling dictator who uses (actual, legitimate) oppression as forms of social and behavioral control for order. This can include surveillance, lack of free speech/silencing of opposition, generations of punishment, slavery, etc. to invoke fear. Some governing styles believe that the best motivators are things such as rewards, while fascism attempts to scare people into doing things. It also implies the absence of democracy, making the dissolution of power extremely difficult without outside intervention. Leaders of fascist regimes (dictators) hence also become moral leaders who are often treated almost like gods. A great example is practically every communist regime in history having a cult of personality.

Fascism was not inherently right-wing. In fact there were more left-wing fascists in history (communists basically). A great example of modern-day fascism is North Korea. It's also worth noting that fascism is not indicative of any economic system but usually results in communism due to centralization of all power and authority.

Fascist regimes commonly used displays of power, weaponry, and military (militarism) to scare other nations as well as scare the citizens of their own nation into submission. An arms race might be a more peaceful way of doing this. Fascists in history also seem to often be warmongers in hopes of expanding/taking new territory, until I suppose they've taken over the world I guess.

It obviously scares people because in the event a fascist regime is successful and takes over everything, almost everyone is subjugated except for a ruling class with all the power, and there is nobody to help you or try to save you. The people would have to try to revolt but wouldn't have any rights and would probably very easily be taken down. However that's also getting into globalism which is a whole other thing...

Edit: I think this is important so I'm gonna add it. People often mistake racism or nationalism as "fascism." This isn't the case. Racism is only fascism when it's forced and mandated: "if you don't hate this group of people we'll kill your whole family and make you watch to invoke fear, because that's the government's agenda and you better do what we say." All modern racism is free-will racism, people are racist because they want to be, not because they are forced and scared into it.

 

[Maxliam]

Fascism, in 2018, is the authoritarian approach to political identity. It is found in the penalizing or de-platforming of individuals for "wrongthink" or differing political opinions and/or personal beliefs that fall outside the collective echo chamber of the mainstream progressive agenda.

Also:

View attachment 480807

That girl has some DSL. Dictator Sucking Lips. *rimshot*

 

[Your Sexy Futa Sister]

Why should we bother defining fascism when we can just Google it? :>

 

[Positron]

Fascism is the overgrowth of fascia, the tough collaginous tissue that envelopes muscles.

 

[Arkle Seizure]

"Pretending you care when you don't."

 

[mindlessobserver]

Why should we bother defining fascism when we can just Google it? :>

Because definitions of fascism are like assholes. Everyone has one and they are full of shit.

For example, one thing I am noticing about fascist philosophy is that it's not just about instilling fear in the population so much as it is creating a alternative grand narrative that explains reality and then using fear/force to insure there is no competition to what the Government says is real. Hence the infamous quote "the truth is the enemy of the state".

If you just say the primary factor of a fascist state is nationalistic or racialist totalitarianism, then many traditional monarchies could be considered fascist, or even tribal groupings like the Mongol Empire or Manchu China. Which leads to the mistake of accusing someone with authoritarian tendencies or in favor of a strong central state to being a Nazi.

To me it seems the psychological control of the meta narrative over society is what is unique to fascist States. Something not shared by your standard run of the mill tyrants.

 

[RichardMongler]

Oh, jeez. This isn't going to be an easy or concise question to answer as, depending on who you ask, you'll get a range of different and sometimes contradictory answers, but frankly, I'm of the opinion the best person to ask on the subject are those who claim to be one before crosschecking it with independent observers.

Things Fascism Is:A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such 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.

This is a good start, but there's also a massive spiritual component that goes into Fascism. I remember in all of IronMarch / Rope Culture's propaganda was the repeated stressing of metaphysical concepts. They would frequently refer to the Universal Truth, Natural Order or Laws of Nature.