Fascism is generally understood to be an extremist, authoritarian, and far-right political system. While fascist regimes have varied greatly in their symbolism, ideology, and international orientation, a number of common characteristics can be delineated.
Broadly speaking, fascism is authoritarian in that it is anti-democratic, or disdainful of the notion of political equality and participation. Thus, fascist states have tended to consolidate power in the hands of one charismatic leader, and, to a lesser extent, his...
Fascism is generally understood to be an extremist, authoritarian, and far-right political system. While fascist regimes have varied greatly in their symbolism, ideology, and international orientation, a number of common characteristics can be delineated.
Broadly speaking, fascism is authoritarian in that it is anti-democratic, or disdainful of the notion of political equality and participation. Thus, fascist states have tended to consolidate power in the hands of one charismatic leader, and, to a lesser extent, his party. Pertinent examples include Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Francisco Franco in Spain. Fascist regimes are also authoritarian in that they seek to regulate economic structures and alter social relations. Indeed, fascist regimes often seek to restore a long-lost national identity, or a debased national pride. They exalt tradition, national and/or ethnic folklore, and nationalistic ideals. It is critical to note that they cast such projects as restorations of, or a return to, a mythical, idealized past. In Germany, Adolf Hitler deployed notions of a pure, idyllic, and heroic German past, as well as a wounded German pride (that is, after its defeat in World War I), to galvanize popular support.
Other features of fascist regimes include an exaltation of masculinity, militarism, and youth. There may be a narrative emphasis on purging or cleansing the nation of internal and external enemies who, more often than not, are said to consist of oppressed minority groups. These groups are accused of conspiring with globalist or foreign forces—remember, fascism draws heavily upon nationalism—to injure the "true" nationals, and to deprive them of what is "rightfully" theirs. In Nazi Germany, the Jewish community was cast as such an enemy.
As with any political ideology, fascism is colored by the specific context of the nation in which it takes root. In fascist Italy, Mussolini and his party used Catholic imagery and (idealized) history to amass support. Mussolini claimed that he and he alone could protect the Italian people, their culture, and their Catholic religion from the scourge of leftism. In Germany, Hitler drew upon centuries of European anti-Semitism to demonize the Jewish people.
However, it must be noted that there are some important disagreements among scholars as to the definition of fascism. Some do not believe that fascism is necessarily a far-right phenomenon, but is better classified as a form of collectivism. One proponent of this view is Friedrich von Hayek, who argues that fascism is more closely related to communism or authoritarian leftism than conventional "right wing" politics. Indeed, von Hayek claims that, at its core, fascism is based on centralized planning, and a disdain for individual liberty. He even goes so far as to claim that the roots of the Nazi ideology lie in socialism (The Road to Serfdom, 200). Thus, fascism is best thought of as opposed to classical liberalism, or systems in which individual liberty and limited government prevail.
Other prominent scholars who propose alternate definitions of fascism include John Lukacs and George Orwell. I would strongly recommend that you read such critiques, along with detailed accounts of fascism in various countries.
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