[Tweet by Gillian Branstetter reads “If enforcing gender norms requires a constant state of surveillance and censorship then they probably aren’t as biological or innate as you think they are]
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of
patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are
seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for
security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be
ignored in certain cases because of “need” The people tend to look the other
way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long
incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a
Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic
frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial,
ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists,
etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems,
the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the
domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be
almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender
roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and
anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes the media are directly controlled by
the government, but in other cases, the media are indirectly controlled by
government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives.
Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the
government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the
most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion.
Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when
the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s
policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a
fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power,
creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only
real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated
entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open
hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors
and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free _expression in the
arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given
almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook
police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There
is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist
nations
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by
groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions
and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from
accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and
even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a
complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against
or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control
voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media.
Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control
elections.
