The 14 Characteristics of Fascism - by Lawrence Britt

[Glenda]

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

How are we doing with these? GO to the link to get more info on each of the 14 characteristics


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Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

4. Supremacy of the Military

5. Rampant Sexism

6. Controlled Mass Media

7. Obsession with National Security

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined

9. Corporate Power is Protected

10. Labor Power is Suppressed

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

14. Fraudulent Elections

[firebee]

1. the 15th characteristic

Using tanks to intimidate citizens

[LamedVov]

2. No-Win Post

We can argue all we want about whether America is fascist, Naziesque, or whatever, but we'll never win any elections with this kind of talk. I prefer winning to self-pitying sobbing.

[fshrink]

7. To win, it seems important

to have a clue of what it is that you're fighting against. What do you think we're facing? The republican party? I don't think so. It is not wise to overlook the lessons of history. Or brush them away, thinking that this is a new situation. It is not. It is a rather old one in fact.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zero Gravitas]

12. if the jackboot fits...

[fshrink]

3. One is missing

You need a "furher", a leader, who represents the will of god and humbly accepts his fate. Better if the chosen one looks like he's handicapped in some way: makes projection, identification and empathy stronger.

[katmondoo]

4. Thanks, I am saving this

[rockydem]

5. what religion was Hitler?

[oscar111]

8. and mussolini, and franco?

...

[Ready4Change]

10. Christian, or so he claimed.

.

[trotsky]

11. Catholic

And he was never excommunicated.

[oscar111]

6. Pyramiders vs. Levellers - Pyra. is fascism in a word

useful summary of the core of all the points listed:

Pyramid {of power and money}

Democracy, on the other hand, is Levelling of power and money.

LW vs. RW... Level vs Pyramid
{best little summary anywhere, i say}
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Useful also,

"money is power
and power is money.

That is all ye know,
and all ye need to know"

Keats, "Ode to a Grecian Urn".

[eurolefty]

13. Fascism vs. American "movement corservatism"

David Neiwert's 7 part series of articles comparing classical fascism and American "movement conservatism".
Part 1: The Morphing of the Conservative Movement
Part 2: The Architecture of Fascism
Part 3: The Pseudo-Fascist Campaign
Part 4: The Apocalyptic One-Party State
Part 5: Warfare By Other Means
Part 6: Breaking Down the Barriers
Part 7 (Conclusion): It Can Happen Here