validcriticism:

Fascism is an anti-intellectual, militaristic, anti-democratic ideology. It does not structure or present itself like a political theory usually does. The writings of famous fascist leaders are usually about specific issues and opinions. They often contradict each other and themselves. Fascists are obsessed with tradition and national culture and will vary wildly from country to country. Trying to define fascism and understand it is not as easy as citing a source, and is not a neutral act. On top of that, modern fascism knows it has to hide itself to be accepted, so it is even harder to pin down.

What I’m going to describe here are some important features of fascism.

-Fascism is nationalistic. The survival of the nation is the most important thing for a fascist. Everything else must be sacrificed to maintain it. It’s important to understand that the fascist has no respect for the nation as it is, but instead has an ideal nation in mind. Usually that ideal nation is a historical fantasy about a time when the nation was pure and strong. Recreating that ideal nation requires violence.

-Fascism is violent. A fascist pacifist is an oxymoron. Fascism glorifies weapons and people who use them against their enemies, which include most of the world. For a fascist, peace breeds weakness and only conflict breeds virtue. Avoiding violence is seen as inherently cowardly. If a fascist avoids violence, it is a temporary tactical decision, and fascists believe the same is true for everyone else. Violence is seen as authentic, domination as natural.

-Fascism is anti-intellectual, anti-democratic and amoral. For a fascist, talk is cheap. If knowledge does not help the nation dominate others, it is useless or even dangerous. This is why fascists famously burn books. It does not mean they are unintelligent, but that they see knowledge as a tool rather than a goal. Fascists also believe in a clear hierarchy where the strong rule the weak. Democracy is seen as vain, idle and inefficient. In the mind of a fascist, all nations are in a constant struggle for dominance and their nation should be run like an army that will go to any lengths to win. Empathy and ethics are an obstacle to loyalty and victory.

-Fascism is based on a fixed hierarchy. Everyone is judged by a fascists by their loyalty and their utility to their (view of the) nation . Foreigners and the disabled are considered the lowest of the low. Women are usually judged based on their ability to reproduce and support the nation. LGBT people are usually seen as a revolt against the gender roles that reproduce the nation. All of these groups will be persecuted and murdered if necessary.

-Fascism requires anti-semitism or something like it. Fascism is based on two ideas that should contradict each other: on the one hand, the nation is superior in every way. On the other hand, the nation is under constant, serious threat from other nations. How can those inferior nations even pose a threat? Because there is at least one insidious, conniving nation that is conspiring to manipulate events. That is the role that anti-semitism plays: a conspiracy theory that allows the nation to feel superior and victimized at the same time.

-Fascism is hypocritical and untrustworthy. This is a consequence of its amorality. Since they are fighting an existential war for dominance, and everyone is conspiring to destroy the nation, no one can be trusted and they feel there should be no moral restraint. Language becomes a weapon fascists use to confuse and demoralize their enemies and reinforce their ideas. Fascists will contradict themselves. They will make stuff up. They will say things that don’t make any sense to anyone who cares about human decency, rational discourse or even grammar and syntax.

-Fascism is not trying to convince you with good arguments. They are trying to win a war. They don’t need you to agree or join them. They need you to give up. If they can make you lose faith in debate, in society or humanity, they can win. Your apathy is useful to them. This is why debating them is useless: fascism can make its point simply by debating in bad faith. Even if they only speak nonsense and you disprove everything they say, they will continue to speak. They will simply not acknowledge that they’ve ‘lost’. It will not stop them from conspiring to commit genocide or recruit others to their side. In their view, that is winning. By debating them, you are only taking them seriously and giving them a platform.

-Some fascists are true believers: they really believe that they are under attack and that fascism is the only way to survive. Others know it’s bullshit and are just manipulating the true believers for power’s sake. But there is also a group that doesn’t really care either way (and to be honest, I think that most fascists think this way). For them, fascism just affirms their feelings and desires, and they have a subconscious attraction to it and will defend it from rational thought. This is why there are some fascists you will never convince.