The 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Powerful and Continuing = Nationalism
Fascist=20 regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, = slogans,=20 symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen=20 everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public=20 displays.

Disdain for the Recognition of = Human=20 Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for=20 security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that = human=20 rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." = The=20 people tend to look the other way or even approve of = torture,=20 summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of = prisoners, etc.

Identification of = Enemies/Scapegoats=20 as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a = unifying=20 patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived = common=20 threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; = liberals;=20 communists; socialists, terrorists, = etc.

Supremacy=20 of the Military
Even when there are widespread = domestic=20 problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount = of=20 government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. = Soldiers=20 and military service are glamorized.

Rampant = Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to = be almost=20 exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, = traditional=20 gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion = is high,=20 as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national=20 policy.

Controlled Mass = Media
Sometimes to=20 media is directly controlled by the government, but in = other=20 cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government=20 regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and = executives.=20 Censorship, especially in war time, is very=20 common.

Obsession with National = Security
Fear=20 is used as a motivational tool by the government over the=20 masses.

Religion and Government are=20 Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to = use the=20 most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate = public=20 opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from = government leaders, even when the major tenets of the = religion are=20 diametrically opposed to the government's policies or=20 actions.

Corporate Power is = Protected
The=20 industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation = often are=20 the ones who put the government leaders into power, = creating a=20 mutually beneficial business/government relationship and = power=20 elite.

Labor Power is = Suppressed
Because the=20 organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a = fascist=20 government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, = or are=20 severely suppressed .

Disdain for = Intellectuals and=20 the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and = tolerate open=20 hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not = uncommon=20 for professors and other academics to be censored or even=20 arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, = and=20 governments often refuse to fund the = arts.

Obsession=20 with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, = the police=20 are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The = people are=20 often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego = civil=20 liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a = national=20 police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist=20 nations.

Rampant Cronyism and=20 Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are = governed by=20 groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to = government positions and use governmental power and = authority to=20 protect their friends from accountability. It is not = uncommon in=20 fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures = to be=20 appropriated or even outright stolen by government=20 leaders.

Fraudulent = Elections
Sometimes=20 elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other = times=20 elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or = even=20 assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation = to=20 control voting numbers or political district boundaries, = and=20 manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically = use=20 their judiciaries to manipulate or control=20 elections.

Copyright =A9 2003 Free Inquiry=20 magazine
Reprinted for Fair Use Only.