The origins of fascism: from where did it come from, and how do we fight back?

By Katie Stephanou, University of Liverpool

All opinions are those of their respective author, and are not indicative of the stance of EUPS.

From the No Kings protests in the USA to the rise of far- right political parties across Europe, this term continuously navigates its way through all media outlets.

When we think of fascism, we think of Benito Mussolini, we think Adolf Hitler, and we think of power and authority. Fascism is more nuisance, and each fascist movement is different; there are numerous debates and a lack of consensus when trying to define or explain the nature of fascism. Anderson characterised fascism as ‘wearing a coat of many colours’. Is it a form of extreme conservatism, or is it simply a reaction to socio-economic instability and flawed democracies?

However, what do fascists actually believe? In most fascist regimes, a critical characteristic is the unwavering loyalty to the leader, whether this is the ‘Führer’, ‘Il Duce’ or ‘Commander in Chief’. Supporters are yearning for someone to save them from the hardships they have gone through or the conditions they are living in. This is why the rise of fascism is prevalent during times of economic or cultural decline, e.g. the great depression. People correlate this leader with being a hero, the hero that is there as a symbol of power that will solve all the issues the people are facing, whether that is poverty, crime, unemployment, etc.

Nevertheless, it is not just the charisma or the policies of the leader themselves. It is the fact that the leader provides a clear narrative of victimhood and someone blameworthy. Authoritative leaders usually find some minority and frame it as culpable. During the years of Nazi Germany, it was the Jewish people, around the Cold War, it was communists, and currently, for most far-right parties, it is immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. These minorities do not have any substantial contributions to this idea of national decline that fascism promotes; they are simply scapegoats. Far-right parties across Europe and the USA are pinning the blame on these minorities by exploiting society’s confirmation bias, prejudice and bigotry against these groups. This appeals, as people gain a sense of belonging and unite against a ‘common enemy’.

Furthermore, there seems to be a theme of violence within authoritative regimes, specifically, the unapprehensive deployment of violence, whether that is through showing off the military capabilities, having martial law or even extensive use of the police. This is all for asserting ‘law and order’ at the cost of specific groups; it is a show of strength. There are multiple examples of this. Fascist Italy had the squadrismo against communists and socialists. When Greece was under the military regime ‘Junta’ it exercised violence against democrats, communists and political opponents and even students. Cyprus had the paramilitary terrorist group “EOKA B’”, which not only targeted communists but also Turkish Cypriots. We also have President Donald Trump releasing the National Guard in multiple US states to support his deportation policies.

How does understanding the nature of fascism through these key characteristics equip us to battle it? I believe that to combat an issue, you need to first identify it, identify the manifestations and identify its source. Therefore, knowing when rights are being restricted, recognising when victimhood narratives are being used and pointing out when minority groups are being demonised by politicians and media. These are all crucial mechanisms of fascism that the public should be able to combat, and this can only be done by understanding that they are part of fascism.

Additionally, it is not just about recognising the issue; it is also about not normalising this ideology. Seeing media outlets like Jubilee giving a platform to such beliefs, implying that they are simply logical and reasonable political opinions when they are not. For example, in a recent video, a participant openly admitted to being a Nazi. You cannot recognise when beliefs align with fascism if you do not understand the ideology of fascism, or you cannot understand when a politician or a policy follows a fascist philosophy unless you understand what a fascist philosophy is. For instance, a disregard for human rights and humiliation when it comes to immigrants.

In conclusion, we understand that fascism is not as straightforward as it may appear; it thrives on prejudice, using scapegoats and narratives that exploit people’s fears and social struggles. Directing this blame to marginalised groups and normalising hatred and violence towards these groups, fascist regimes and organisations assert control and power. The patterns of fascism are persistent in our contemporary society, which is exactly why people need to remain vigilant and be able to recognise these signs of fascism. Actively recognising these patterns and fighting against them prevents the normalisation of fascist beliefs.

Bibliography:

Common Characteristics of fascist movement – Robert Soucy