{"id":81003,"date":"2022-10-09T15:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-09T19:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=81003"},"modified":"2022-10-14T11:33:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:33:58","slug":"what-is-the-meaning-of-fascism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/what-is-the-meaning-of-fascism\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the True Meaning of Fascism?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the meaning of fascism? How can you recognize a fascist political system?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the word “fascist” is commonly used in conversation these days, it’s important to understand the real meaning of fascism. A fascist political system causes citizens to live in fear without the basic human rights many of us enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn the meaning of fascism, including the ideology behind fascist political systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Meaning of Fascism: A Misunderstood Ideology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Modern political discourse<\/a>, especially in the U.S., is rife with talk of fascism. People on both sides of the political spectrum now use \u201cfascist\u201d merely as an insult<\/a>, or as a knee-jerk reaction to policies they don\u2019t like\u2014examples<\/a> are all over the news<\/a> and social media<\/a>. However, words have meaning; diluting the meaning of fascism in this way makes it difficult to recognize real fascism, or even to understand what it is. So, what is the meaning of fascism? Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, and repressive political philosophy or system. Historically, fascist ruling parties led to widespread poverty, people living in fear, and the loss of basic human rights<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to understand what fascism is and be able to identify its signs, because simply calling everything you don\u2019t like \u201cfascist\u201d isn\u2019t just inaccurate, but also potentially dangerous. Like the story of the boy who cried wolf, crying fascism too often creates the risk that people won\u2019t take it seriously if and when actual fascism appears in modern politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Far-Right Ideology of Fascism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fascism is a far-right system where a charismatic dictator wields the combined power of the government, corporations, religion, and media to maintain absolute control over the people. <\/strong>As Mussolini himself wrote in his Doctrine of Fascism<\/em><\/a>: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThus understood, Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State\u2014a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values\u2014interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people. No individuals or groups (political parties, cultural associations, economic unions, social classes) outside the State.\u201d Today, no countries and few, if any, political parties describe themselves as fascist<\/a>; however, the extent to which certain political movements, parties, and governments evoke fascist ideas and policies is open to debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three of the common elements found in a fascist system are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n