Fascism’s intellectual and ideological incoherence confuses people, even though historians almost universally define fascism as an anti-modern backward-looking ultra-nationalist, militaristic, social and racial darwinist movement of the extreme right. But its simultaneously statist and capitalist economics and modernist cross-currents — like corporatism and techno-futurism — divert attention from its far right essence. With Trump calling the Democratic Party fascist, communist and Marxist, it’s enough to make unmoored ahistorical heads spin, which is exactly the point of this kind of Bannon-style flood the zone with shit hybrid disinformation warfare.
Autocracy and xenophobia-flirting conservatives who’d like to distance their demographic anxiety and restorationist ideology from the taint of the discredited genocidal pre-1945 fascist regimes, are especially vulnerable to this political version of incoherent word salad-tossing psychobabble.
Semiotician Umberto Eco, who grew up in Mussolini’s Italy, wrote a clarifying antidote to this unmoored incoherence in his essay Ur-Fascism (Eternal Fascism): 14 Ways of Looking at a Blackshirt”, which effectively banishes any thought of taking the Socialist part of National Socialism seriously.
“The cult of tradition”, characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.
“The rejection of modernism”, which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.
“The cult of action for action’s sake”, which dictates that action is of value in itself and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.
“Disagreement is treason” — fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.
“Fear of difference”, which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.
“Appeal to a frustrated middle class”, fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.
“Obsession with a plot” and the hyping-up of an enemy threat.
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