The 10 tactics of fascism | Jason Stanley | Big Think
TLDRIn this insightful script, Yale Professor Jason Stanley dissects the core elements of fascism, emphasizing its cult of leadership and ultra-nationalist ideology. He explains how fascists exploit perceived threats to national identity, manipulate myths of a glorious past, and use propaganda to create an 'us versus them' narrative. Stanley also highlights the dangers of hierarchy, victimhood, and the distortion of law and order in fascist regimes, urging vigilance against the rise of such ideologies.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Fascism is characterized by a cult of the leader who promises national restoration against perceived threats from various groups.
- 🏳️🌈 Fascism is inherently right-wing and based on ultra-nationalism, but it's important to distinguish it from other forms of authoritarianism.
- 🏆 The script emphasizes that not all negative actions are fascist, highlighting the specific ideological structure of fascism.
- 📚 Jason Stanley, the author of 'How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them,' discusses the rise of fascist movements from democratic beginnings.
- 🗳️ Fascist parties often start as social and political movements, indicating the importance of recognizing fascist tactics in non-fascist societies.
- 🎭 Nationalism in fascism involves a mythic past that portrays a time of greatness, often tied to military prowess and racial dominance.
- 🔍 Fascist propaganda is distinct, focusing on a friend/enemy dichotomy where the enemy is seen as a threat to the nation's existence.
- 🕵️♂️ Fascism centers on the leader as the ultimate authority, challenging any form of expertise or reality that contradicts the leader's narrative.
- 🗣️ Democracy is fundamentally about truth and political equality, which fascism undermines by spreading lies and fostering inequality.
- 🔝 The concept of hierarchy is central to fascism, promoting the idea of one group's inherent superiority over others.
- 👥 Fascism manipulates the idea of victimhood, convincing certain groups that they are victims of equality and need protection.
- 🏛️ Fascist politics often exploit the concept of law and order to maintain a hierarchy, where the dominant group is inherently law-abiding.
- 👨👩👧👦 Fascist leaders frequently claim to protect families from perceived threats, using fear to consolidate power.
- 🏙️ Urban/rural divides are common in fascist narratives, with cities portrayed as decadent and rural areas as the true heart of the nation.
- 👷♂️ The value of hard work is emphasized in fascism, often used to devalue minority groups and justify their subjugation or exclusion.
Q & A
What is the core promise of a fascist leader according to the transcript?
-The core promise of a fascist leader is national restoration in the face of perceived humiliation by various groups such as immigrants, leftists, liberals, minorities, homosexuals, and women. The leader pledges a powerful, often violent, response to solve the problems they identify.
How is fascism characterized in terms of political ideology?
-Fascism is characterized as right-wing by nature, based on ultra-nationalism. However, it's noted that ultra-nationalist movements can also arise from minority groups, and there can be left-wing authoritarianism as well.
What is the role of the leader in a fascist ideology?
-In a fascist ideology, the leader plays a central role as a cult figure who sets the rules about what is true and false, challenging any kind of expertise or reality that might oppose the leader's authority.
How do fascist regimes typically begin?
-Many fascist regimes start off as democratic political parties, with the fascist party running in elections, as was the case with Hitler and the Nazi Party.
What is the significance of the mythic past in nationalism and how does it differ in fascism?
-The mythic past in nationalism often involves a romanticized history of unity and shared culture. In fascism, the mythic past is about past greatness, especially in military prowess and racial dominance, which the fascist leader claims has been taken away and needs to be restored.
What is the structure of fascist propaganda as described in the transcript?
-Fascist propaganda is structured around a friend/enemy distinction, where the political opponent is portrayed as a merciless threat to the nation's existence and traditions, fundamentally opposed to the nation.
How does the concept of truth relate to democracy and fascism?
-Truth is central to democracy, as political equality requires access to truth for informed decision-making. In contrast, fascism often involves getting people used to lies, which undermines the democratic process.
What is the role of hierarchy in fascist ideology?
-Hierarchy is central to fascist ideology, as it is based on the 'big lie' that one group is inherently better than another, such as racial, religious, or gender superiority, which can then be used to create fear and maintain control.
How does the concept of victimhood play a role in fascist rhetoric?
-In fascist rhetoric, victimhood is used to convince people that they are justifiably higher on a hierarchy and that they are victims of equality, such as German Christians being victims of Jews or white Americans being victims of Black American equality.
What is the relationship between law and order and the concept of justice in fascist politics?
-In fascist politics, law and order do not necessarily mean justice or equality. Instead, they structure who is considered legitimate and who is not, often favoring the dominant group and the leader.
How does the transcript describe the appeal to conservatives by fascist politicians?
-The transcript describes how fascist politicians appeal to conservatives by creating fear around issues like transgender rights or homosexuality, suggesting that these are threats to their families and traditional values, and positioning themselves as necessary protectors despite their own controversial methods or rhetoric.
Outlines
🛡️ Fascism: The Cult of the Leader and Nationalism
This paragraph delves into the core characteristics of fascism, emphasizing its nature as a right-wing ideology rooted in ultra-nationalism. It highlights the leader's role in promising national restoration against perceived threats from various groups, including immigrants, leftists, and minorities. The narrative constructs a mythic past where the nation was great, particularly in its military prowess, and suggests that this greatness has been undermined by internal and external enemies. Fascist propaganda is discussed as a tool that creates a friend/enemy dichotomy, where the political opponent is portrayed as an existential threat to the nation's traditions and existence. The paragraph also touches on the importance of truth in democracy and how fascist leaders undermine this by establishing their authority over what constitutes truth and falsehood, challenging the very foundation of political equality and democracy.
🏛️ Hierarchy, Victimhood, and the Fascist Appeal
The second paragraph explores the concept of hierarchy within fascist ideologies, illustrating how it is used to create a false sense of superiority among certain groups, which in turn can be manipulated to generate fear and anxiety about losing status. This fear is then linked to the idea of victimhood, where those who are convinced of their higher status are told they are victims of movements advocating for equality. The paragraph also examines the fascist manipulation of law and order, where it is used not to signify justice or equality but to reinforce the legitimacy of the dominant group and the subservience of the minority. The narrative of protecting women and children is used to evoke a sense of urgency and fear, rallying support for strongman politics. Additionally, the paragraph discusses the urban/rural divide often exploited by fascist movements, portraying cities as centers of decadence and rural areas as the true heart of the nation. The paragraph concludes by warning of the dangers when conservative individuals are drawn into fascist ideologies under the guise of protecting their families and values.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Fascism
💡Ultra-nationalism
💡Propaganda
💡Cult of the Leader
💡Hierarchy
💡Equality
💡Law and Order
💡Mythical Past
💡Victimization
💡Urban/Rural Divide
💡Hard Work
Highlights
Fascism is characterized by a cult of the leader who promises national restoration in response to perceived humiliation by various groups.
Fascism is inherently right-wing and based on ultra-nationalism, but ultra-nationalist movements can also emerge from minority groups.
While acknowledging left-wing authoritarianism and its atrocities, the speaker emphasizes that not all terrible things are fascist, highlighting the specificity of fascism.
Fascist regimes often begin as democratic political parties, as exemplified by Hitler's Nazi Party participating in elections.
Nationalism in fascism involves a mythic past where the nation was great, particularly in terms of military prowess and racial dominance.
Fascist propaganda is distinct, focusing on a friend/enemy dichotomy where the enemy is a threat to the nation's existence and traditions.
Fascism centers around the leader as the ultimate authority, challenging expertise and reality that could undermine the leader's power.
The core of democracy is truth, and without access to truth, people are not truly free, as illustrated by the example of North Korea.
Equality in democracy requires truth, emphasizing that political equality means each voice matters equally and speaking truth to power is crucial.
Hierarchy is central to fascism, promoting the lie that one group is inherently better than another, which can lead to fear and victimhood.
Fascist politics often manipulate law and order to maintain the dominance of the majority group and portray minority groups as inherently lawless.
Fascist leaders exploit fears for the safety of women and children, positioning themselves as protectors against perceived threats.
Fascist movements often exploit urban/rural divides, portraying cities as decadent and rural areas as the true, hard-working heart of the nation.
The concept of 'Arbeit macht frei' is discussed, linking the idea of hard work as a virtue and the devaluation of those unable to work.
Fascism can lure honest conservatives by framing issues as existential fights, even if they do not fully agree with fascist doctrines.
The speaker warns of the dangers when individual elements of fascism are grouped together, potentially drawing in unsuspecting conservatives.
Transcripts
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