We Need to Talk About Neo-Fascism

Friends, we need to talk about Neo-Fascism.

We need to understand Neo-Fascism. We need to study how it emerged in other societies in the past, and understand how it has emerged in our own society.  We need to be writing about it and talking about it. Our love of neighbor compels us not to be silent:

Historically, Fascism is characterized by ultra-nationalism; the violent suppression of dissent or criticism (by journalists, academics/ scientists, and activists); and by a forcible segregation of society along racial, ethnic, religious, economic, gender/orientation, and ability/ disability lines. It is most commonly associated with WW2-era Italy (Mussolini) and Nazi Germany, but it has spread in other places and times as well.

Fascism seeks to remove (through concentration, detention, deportation/ expulsion, deprivation of basic needs, and death) any group seen to be weak, vulnerable, or a 'drain on society.' This is often justified through rhetoric appealing to 'law and order,' or by economic necessity.

A fascist leader may rise to power through a constitutional election process, but the leader often has authoritarian ambitions--a one party government; the leader may refuse to yield power to a democratically-elected opposition candidate, thereby becoming a dictator. They may be an autocrat--seeking to make and enforce policy without checks and balances on their authority. They slander, discredit, and sometimes forcibly remove or silence anyone who disagrees with them. They may be a charismatic leader who instills a deeply loyal following by emphasizing an 'us vs. them' rhetoric that gives a sense of belonging and a common enemy.

A fascist leader may be able to enforce their power through state-sponsored violence (co-opting the military and/or police); and/or through the use of non-state sponsored militia or paramilitary forces. These militias may terrorize targeted populations through their open display of weapons; shooting or beating up unarmed persons belonging to targeted groups; 'patrolling' and harassing neighborhoods where targeted populations live; burning down or otherwise attacking homes, businesses, houses of worship, or other civic structures of targeted populations; and/ or destroy property or attack people and blame the targeted groups for the destruction.

(We saw a lot of this over the summer in Minneapolis and other cities, where the majority of large-scale arson and other serious vandalism was committed by white persons, as court records and surveillance footage have later shown). By and large, Black people were blamed in the immediate aftermath for the actions of these white people).

A fascist leader may also co-opt large segments of the majority religion (historically Christianity), and the wealthy classes, by promising policies favorable to them. They may appeal to the working and middle classes by promising economic benefits, a return to 'traditional values,' or a return to 'law and order.'

Fascism invokes fear of anarchy, 'Marxism,' and liberal thought as the major threats to an orderly society. It is the complete opposite of egalitarianism. It can be incredibly misogynist--pushing for the return of women to stereotypical gender roles and out of the workforce. This has less of an impact on upper-income and/or right-wing Christian households, where women are less likely to have a full-time, needs-supporting income outside the home. Universities permitting dissent may be closed; public school curriculum may be altered to be more favorable to the fascist agenda; and pastors who speak out against human rights abuses may be forced out of their churches by supporters of the fascist leader. Mayors and governors who seek to preserve their citizens' civil rights may face retaliatory action as well until they comply with orders or are forced out of office.

We need to recognize, study, speak out against, and work to prevent neo-Fascism from overtaking our society this fall. I will be doing what I can to educate others, and I invite you to do the same.

If you would like to learn more about Fascism and don't know where to start, Wikipedia actually is a good starting point. It has dozens of scholarly resources to read cited there, for further study. Here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism