- The following are the common Characteristics of Fascism.
- 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes
tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs,
and other belongings. Flags were seen everywhere, as were flag symbols
on clothing and in public displays.
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- 2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Human rights were ignored in certain cases because
of "need", need for security from enemies. The people even
approved of tortures, executions, assassinations, long incarcerations
of prisoners, etc.
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- 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.
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- 4. Supremacy of the Military - Military acted as the supreme power in resolving even widespread domestic
problems and thus the domestic agenda was neglected. Soldiers and military
service were glamorized.
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- 5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations were exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes,
traditional gender roles were made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and
homosexuality are suppressed and the state was represented as
the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
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- 6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the 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, was very common.
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- 7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as
a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
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- 8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments
in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation
as a tool to manipulate public opinion.
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- 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.
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- 10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing
power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions
are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
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- 11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist
nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education. Free expression in the arts and letters was openly attacked.
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- 12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes,
the police were given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people were often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil
liberties in the name of patriotism. There was often a national police
force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
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