The Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism

["PRISCILLA GUTIERREZ" <pgutpgut@msn.com>]

Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, in studying the fascist regimes 
of Hitler, Franco, Pinochet and others identified 14 characteristics they 
all had in common.  It will not be a surprise how many fit the current 
administration. Here are some of them:

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.

Note:  Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence, considering he approved of 
the execution in Texas of a woman who killed her husband after year's of 
abuse is very telling indeed.

Supremacy of the Military:  Even when there is widespread domestic problems, 
the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and 
the domestic agenda is neglected.  Soliders and military service are 
glamorized. (What's the latest figure on our national deficit?)

Rampant Sexism:  The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost 
exclustively 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.

Controlled Mass Media:  Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the 
government, but in other cases the media is indirectly controlled by 
government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives.  
Censorship, especially in wartime, is very common. (Armstrong Williams, 
anyone?)

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.

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 are common from 
government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are 
diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

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 (Halliburton, Reading First, anyone?).  It is not 
uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be 
appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

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 opppressed.

The rest of the characteristics can be found at 
www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html.



Priscilla Gutierrez
Outreach Specialist
New Mexico School for the Deaf

...change is inevitable, growth is optional...