Actually, I think these kinds of lists of the political characteristics of 'fascism' are a bit misleading. They numerate characteristics that can generally be found in any authoritarian political movement or regime - for example in absolute monarchies. But fascism in more specific because it is in essence an economic phenomenon - "the continuation of capitalism by undemocratic means". It arises specifically in reaction to perceived threat to capitalism, generally from the left (revolutions and fear of a domino effect from them), or indeed the actual election of anti-capitalist governments in Spain in the 1930s and Chile in the '70s. As Hayek (Thatcher's guru, Pinochet's advisor) said, if democracy comes into conflict with capitalism, it's democracy that has to end.
My own view is that impending climate-ecological breakdown and the need to take steps to mitigate it are just such an existential threat to capitalism - and this is at bottom what is driving the current rise of fascism in 'western democracies'.
@GeofCox@RichardJMurphy Which is ironic, because if capitalism had risen to address the challenges of climate and ecological breakdown (and social inequality too), there was a lot of money to be made.
@KimSJ@GeofCox@RichardJMurphy I think authoritarianism is the underlying target in all cases. Authoritarian people are driven to control others, either through monarchy, totalitarianism, capitalism or fascism. I think this is why, with all the “untapped capital” staring them in the face in the form of solving the renewable energy and climate crises through capitalist means they all double down in the status quo, adopting the most anti-social stances possible.
It’s why these so called traits of fascism is also found in other forms of authoritarianism.
@CynAq@GeofCox@RichardJMurphy
The problem with talking about fascism is that in the minds of most people it means jackboots and toothbrush moustaches, which are obviously nowhere in evidence these days. The new brand of fascism is far more subtle, more pervasive and insidious; harder to recognise and harder to focus on, so harder to fight.
🧵 1/3
“I sometimes fear that
people think that fascism arrives in fancy dress
worn by grotesques and monsters
as played out in endless re-runs of the Nazis.
Fascism arrives as your friend.
It will restore your honour,
make you feel proud,
protect your house,
give you a job,
clean up the neighbourhood,
remind you of how great you once were,
clear out the venal and the corrupt,
remove anything you feel is unlike you…
It doesn’t walk in saying,
“Our programme means militias, mass imprisonments, transportations, war and persecution.” ”