How Fascism Works

01Fascist politics is bad news - it stirs up hate and fear, and trashes values like freedom and fairness

Fascist politics, as explained by Jason Stanley, is a dangerous game that can wreak havoc on societies. It's a political style that feeds on division, devalues people, and twists history to its advantage. One of the biggest threats of this kind of politics is how it treats certain groups of people. In a fascist system, some groups, often chosen based on race, religion, or ethnicity, are seen as less than human. This devaluing of people makes it easier to justify terrible acts like genocide and ethnic cleansing. Think about the Holocaust, where the Nazis saw Jews as less than human, which they used as an excuse to murder six million people. When people are seen as things, not humans, it's easier to hurt them without feeling bad about it. Another key feature of fascist politics is splitting society into "us" and "them." This split is often based on things like race, ethnicity, religion, or any other difference. The "us" group is seen as better and the rightful owners of the country, while the "them" group is painted as dangerous and a threat to the country's identity and safety. This split creates fear and hostility towards the "them" group, leading to discrimination, violence, and even genocide. For instance, in the U.S., the idea of "us" versus "them" has been used to justify policies that discriminate against immigrants and people of color. Fascist politics also involves making up a mythical past, a glorified and often twisted version of history that supports the current policies and beliefs of the regime. This twisting of history can be used to justify oppressive policies and to silence anyone who disagrees. People who are smart and disagree with the regime's story are often persecuted and silenced. For example, in Turkey under Erdogan's rule, there's been a crackdown on academics and journalists who challenge the government's story. Lastly, fascist politics creates a climate of fear and suspicion, where fake news and conspiracy theories replace truth and evidence. This climate allows the regime to control the people and keep power. For example, in Russia under Putin's rule, state-controlled media outlets spread false information to manipulate public opinion and keep the regime in power. In short, fascist politics is dangerous because it devalues certain groups, splits society, twists history, and replaces truth with propaganda. These tactics can lead to violence, oppression, and the loss of democratic values.