14.
Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in
fascist nations are a complete sham... |
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The 14 Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
Posted April 7, 2003 thepeoplesvoice.org
by Dr. Lawrence Britt
Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the
fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain),
Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt
found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing
Nationalism - 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. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed
and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family
institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media -
Sometimes to 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 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