Fascism is the abandonment or perversion of one’s ideals in order to achieve their idealistic end through nationalism and militarization. When you abandon ideals in practice, they atrophy and don’t come back. The key phrase here is “in practice.” Ideology isn’t measured by rhetoric, it’s measured by action.
It’s got nothing to do with left and right. History has proven both extremes are capable of fascism. The definition falls apart when you only apply it to the far right.
Mussolini abandoned Marxism as ineffective. He gradually felt that nationalism and militarization were the only way to achieve his ideals. When those ideals fail to be achieved, nationalism and militarization consume them and their rule depends on it.
Without question, Trump and most of the GOP are fascist. Use the proper word please. Don’t reinforce a falsehood that they are employing conservative ideology. They are not. This is not what conservative ideology looks like. It’s fascism. Don’t overcomplicate something so simple.
The problem with calling "left-wing" fascism is that while Stalinism, for example, was an authoritarian regime and could be called fascist, it only fits because of its cult of personality and strict censorship. A "left" ideology would not have a cult of personality or censorship, given that the principal focuses are around ensuring everyone's human rights are respected, such as the right to education, healthcare, food and shelter, or religion, the removal of barriers that make society unequal. The enforcement of these egalitarian ideas can become authoritarian, but only for these people who believe people do not have human rights. These people would prefer to not support the other in achieving equity.
gary k. I have a masters degree so am informed. your columns have most often been bewildering but your latest post has been informing, I now understand your underpinnings. you are a wealthy intelligentsia conservative and are of no help to the undoing of our country. jill solomon marland
I’m sorry, but what is the conclusion? You say you wouldn’t go overboard in using the word fascist, but wouldn’t go underboard either. What exactly does that mean?
Fascism is the abandonment or perversion of one’s ideals in order to achieve their idealistic end through nationalism and militarization. When you abandon ideals in practice, they atrophy and don’t come back. The key phrase here is “in practice.” Ideology isn’t measured by rhetoric, it’s measured by action.
It’s got nothing to do with left and right. History has proven both extremes are capable of fascism. The definition falls apart when you only apply it to the far right.
Mussolini abandoned Marxism as ineffective. He gradually felt that nationalism and militarization were the only way to achieve his ideals. When those ideals fail to be achieved, nationalism and militarization consume them and their rule depends on it.
Without question, Trump and most of the GOP are fascist. Use the proper word please. Don’t reinforce a falsehood that they are employing conservative ideology. They are not. This is not what conservative ideology looks like. It’s fascism. Don’t overcomplicate something so simple.
The problem with calling "left-wing" fascism is that while Stalinism, for example, was an authoritarian regime and could be called fascist, it only fits because of its cult of personality and strict censorship. A "left" ideology would not have a cult of personality or censorship, given that the principal focuses are around ensuring everyone's human rights are respected, such as the right to education, healthcare, food and shelter, or religion, the removal of barriers that make society unequal. The enforcement of these egalitarian ideas can become authoritarian, but only for these people who believe people do not have human rights. These people would prefer to not support the other in achieving equity.
gary k. I have a masters degree so am informed. your columns have most often been bewildering but your latest post has been informing, I now understand your underpinnings. you are a wealthy intelligentsia conservative and are of no help to the undoing of our country. jill solomon marland
This post was by Jay Nordlinger, not Gary.
I’m sorry, but what is the conclusion? You say you wouldn’t go overboard in using the word fascist, but wouldn’t go underboard either. What exactly does that mean?