Fascism AP GOV

FASCISM

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

  • What do fascists believe about government, and why is it unbiblical?

EXTREME IDEOLOGIES IN THE UNITED STATES

  • Mainstream political ideologies in the United States:

    • Value representative government.

    • Value rule of law.

    • Value individual rights.

  • Extreme ideologies:

    • Defined as ideologies that reject the above values.

    • Legal in the United States, but unlikely to win elections.

  • Most extreme ideologies are characterized as totalitarian:

    • Totalitarianism Definition: "A system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state." - Google Dictionary

  • Two key aspects of Totalitarian ideologies:

    • Unlimited government power.

    • Lack of respect for individual rights.

BIG BROTHER

  • Notable references include:

    • "When the Nazis Came to Skokie" by Philippa Strum.

    • "Freedom for Speech We Hate".

    • "George Orwell's 1984" characterized by the phrase "Big Brother is watching you".

HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF FASCISM

  • Year 1915:

    • Benito Mussolini named his Italian political movement "Fasci".

  • The term "Fasci":

    • Based on the Latin word "fasces," which symbolizes unity in the Roman Republic.

  • Post World War I:

    • Fascist movements grew in Europe, emphasizing extreme populism & nationalism.

  • Key Fascist Parties:

    • Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party in Germany.

    • Mussolini's National Fascist Party in Italy.

  • After World War II:

    • Defeat of Fascist nations thrust them underground for the remainder of the 20th century.

WHAT IS FASCISM?

  • Difficulty in defining fascism:

    • Neither Hitler nor Mussolini had a consistent ideological framework.

    • Their ideology was a violent reaction to perceived societal issues.

  • Umberto Eco's Contribution:

    • An Italian Scholar who outlined 14 points defining Fascism.

    • He grew up in Fascist Italy, aiming to stave off similar movements in other nations.

    • Note: Eco's list is disputed but foundational for defining Fascism.

SUMMARIZING UMBERTO ECO'S 14 POINTS OF FASCISM

  • According to Eco, Fascism:

    • Rejects modernity: Calls for a "return to tradition" by idolizing an imagined perfect national past.

    • Promotes fear of difference: Targeting minority groups seen as threats to national unity.

    • Life as warfare: Promotes the view that survival is for the strongest; leads to contempt for the weak and idolization of hyper-aggressive masculinity.

    • Selective Populism: The collective will of "the people" is superior to individual wills; the fascist leader is deemed the true interpreter of this collective will.

    • Intolerance of dissent: Disagreement with the government equals treason.

    • Summary Definition of Fascism: A hyper-aggressive form of populism & nationalism convincing "the true people" to resist perceived threats posed by minorities causing national decline.

FASCIST ANSWERS TO THE 4 IDEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS

  1. What lesson does history teach about government?

    • If a government fails to strengthen society, it becomes decadent and weak; weak societies deserve conquest by stronger societies.

  2. What is the purpose of government?

    • To restore national strength by re-establishing a prior point in history where society was robust.

  3. Who should the government represent?

    • The "true" people of the nation, protecting them from minority groups that undermine society's strength.

  4. How much power should the government have?

    • The government must possess unlimited power over all facets of life to ensure societal strength.

FASCISM TODAY

  • Modern manifestations include:

    • The 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA.

  • Neo-Nazis, Alt-Right, Groypers:

    • Utilization of the internet for promoting fascist ideologies in the 21st century.

  • Target demographics:

    • Often focuses on alienated young people, particularly males, who feel a lack of purpose in modern society.

  • Legal implications:

    • Internet radicalization cannot be prohibited in the U.S. without infringing on free speech protections.

  • Current standing of fascism:

    • Remains a fringe ideology in the U.S. and Europe due to its exclusion from mainstream political and social organizations.

    • Common narratives among supporters include feelings of betrayal by politicians, cultural loss, and replacement fears.