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In 2003 political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt studied the fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto (Indonesia) & Pinochet (Chile) & found they all had 14 characteristics in common
("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20)
From: https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20)
From: https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Fear of enemies & the need for security, means people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of inhumane treatment
Fear of enemies & the need for security, means people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of inhumane treatment
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorised.
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorised.
5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security
Xenophobic fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
Xenophobic fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion & Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric & is common even when the major tenets of religion are opposed to government's policies or actions
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric & is common even when the major tenets of religion are opposed to government's policies or actions
9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business / government relationship and power elite.
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business / government relationship and power elite.
10. Labour Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labour is the only real threat to a fascist government, labour unions are either eliminated entirely, or severely suppressed / attacked
Because the organizing power of labour is the only real threat to a fascist government, labour unions are either eliminated entirely, or severely suppressed / attacked
11. Disdain for Intellectuals & the Arts
Tendency to promote & tolerate open hostility to higher education & academia. Not uncommon for professors/academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in arts is openly attacked, & governments may refuse to fund the arts
Tendency to promote & tolerate open hostility to higher education & academia. Not uncommon for professors/academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in arts is openly attacked, & governments may refuse to fund the arts
12. Obsession with Crime
Under fascist regimes, police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses & even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. National police force is often given virtually unlimited power
Under fascist regimes, police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses & even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. National police force is often given virtually unlimited power
13. Rampant Cronyism & Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends & associates who appoint each other to government positions & use gov power + authority to protect friends from accountability.
Not uncommon for national resources to be appropriated
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends & associates who appoint each other to government positions & use gov power + authority to protect friends from accountability.
Not uncommon for national resources to be appropriated
14 Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham.
Elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against opposition + even assassination),
use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries + manipulation of the media
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham.
Elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against opposition + even assassination),
use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries + manipulation of the media
Do you believe #BritainsGotFascists yet?
Restricting the access to Government ministers by our national broadcast media?
#BritainsGotFascists
#BritainsGotFascists
This was the interaction that set me off again btw, remembering this info about early warning signs of fascism 
The original essay "Fascism Anyone?" by Laurence W. Britt
From: Free Inquiry Volume 23, No. 2 Spring 2003
is here https://secularhumanism.org/2003/03/fascism-anyone/
From: Free Inquiry Volume 23, No. 2 Spring 2003
is here
https://secularhumanism.org/2003/03/fascism-anyone/
This seems like #11
Very worrying & open to abuse.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cliodiaspora/status/1233083026718023680
Very worrying & open to abuse.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cliodiaspora/status/1233083026718023680
#6 - They do keep saying we are at war with Covid-19
https://twitter.com/pressgazette/status/1259800997981020161
https://twitter.com/pressgazette/status/1259800997981020161
Ah, rowing back now, apparently.
Guess that test of the water did not go well.
Remain vigilant for more of this though, Johnson's gang are already restricting journalist access to briefings. https://twitter.com/pressgazette/status/1259826344579522560
Guess that test of the water did not go well.
Remain vigilant for more of this though, Johnson's gang are already restricting journalist access to briefings. https://twitter.com/pressgazette/status/1259826344579522560
Yesterday's #ScumMedia campaign was bent on destroying faith in any media who are challenging a corrupt & failing Government.
This has been going on for years through accounts like this, but particularly shrill right now.
They are desperate to stop people from hearing the truth
This has been going on for years through accounts like this, but particularly shrill right now.
They are desperate to stop people from hearing the truth
Trump hit a lot of the signs of encroaching Fascism this week, but particularly this one
#AmericasGotFascists
#FascistTrump
https://mobile.twitter.com/localnotail/status/1212754177165840385
#AmericasGotFascists
#FascistTrump
https://mobile.twitter.com/localnotail/status/1212754177165840385
This is an excellent examination of the reaction of re-emergent fascism to the Coronavirus pandemic https://mobile.twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247606764914302979
The Coronavirus pandemic, like Brexit, is pouring our money into the pockets of Government ministers & their backers. Rampant cronyism.
#ToryCorruption
#PPECorruption
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-waste-150m-buying-unusable-masks-from-banker-5v8390xtp
#ToryCorruption
#PPECorruption
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ministers-waste-150m-buying-unusable-masks-from-banker-5v8390xtp
Fascist regimes need not start at gunpoint
The signs in this thread are indications that those in government are using their power to protect their privilege & not the people they should represent
Good people gave them that power as well as bad, by not paying attention
#Resist
The signs in this thread are indications that those in government are using their power to protect their privilege & not the people they should represent
Good people gave them that power as well as bad, by not paying attention
#Resist
Channel migrants are a 2-4-1 deal for Team Johnson' VoreLeave government -
disdain for human rights + scapegoating of enemies
#BritainsGotFascists https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/10/boris-johnson-hints-at-law-change-to-deport-migrants-who-cross-channel?
disdain for human rights + scapegoating of enemies
#BritainsGotFascists https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/10/boris-johnson-hints-at-law-change-to-deport-migrants-who-cross-channel?
The signs thatr Britt noted of encroaching facism are global, not just in the Anglosphere - Andy Myles in @BylineTimes earlier this year on the threat posed to the worldâs democracies by âpre-fascistâ populists https://bylinetimes.com/2020/02/11/pre-fascism-is-now-everywhere-in-politics-what-can-be-done/
That Byline Times article references @fotoole's pre-fascism theory about the perilous state we are in, from June 2018:
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-trial-runs-for-fascism-are-in-full-flow-1.3543375?
#ResistTogether
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-trial-runs-for-fascism-are-in-full-flow-1.3543375?
#ResistTogether
Bertrand Russell: The Triumph of Stupidity (1933)
about the rise of fascism:
"The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt"
The sentence that follows is also sadly true
https://russell-j.com/0583TS.HTM
about the rise of fascism:
"The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt"
The sentence that follows is also sadly true
https://russell-j.com/0583TS.HTM
So much evidence already here that the people controlling our future are demonstrating populist control mechanisms that we have been warned against because this has happened before.
We were supposed to be vigilant.
We were supposed to remember.
#Resist https://twitter.com/nomore_unicorns/status/1297432291426349056
We were supposed to be vigilant.
We were supposed to remember.
#Resist https://twitter.com/nomore_unicorns/status/1297432291426349056
That interview on modern use of fascist propaganda is here. Believe we have a problem. https://mobile.twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1181893731114524672
