Characteristics of a Fascist Citizen (Italy, 1922-1945)
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Adapted from Umberto Eco's essay "On Ur-Fascism," which specifically considered Italian fascism.
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Cult of tradition: the Italian fascists upheld a mythical (and false) account of pre-modern history.
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Rejection of modernism: they rejected the achievments of the Enlightenment and the Age of Reason, which they considered to mark the beginning of the downfall of Western civilization.
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Action for action's sake: fascists were expected to act decisively and on instinct.
Reflection or thoughtfulness were considered weak.
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Disagreement is treason: the scientific method teaches us that knowledge is produced through analysis and disagreement.
Italian fascists believed that reality was created by power.
To critique someone was the same as attacking them.
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Fear of difference: fascists had a deep fear/hatred of people who were unlike them.
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Appeal to a frustrated middle class: Italy was struggling economically when Mussolini came to power.
Many middle class people felt humiliated because their privileges/standard of living had diminished.
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Obsession conspiracy: unable to comprehend the reasons for their diminished circumstances, Italian fascists became convinced that they were the victims of a plot or betrayal.
The perpetrators of this betrayal were often (falsely) thought to be minorities.
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Enemies are portrayed as both too strong and too weak: seemingly contradictory, but the enemies of fascism are described as both an all powerful conspiracy destroying society and weak, cowardly, and subhuman.
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Pacifism is treason: refusing to take part in fascist violence was considered a betrayal.
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Contempt for the weak: those who suffered were blamed for their own suffering.
This partially explains why the middle class could not accept that their own suffering was the result of anything other than a conspiracy of betrayal.
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Everybody is educated to become a hero: the ideal man in fascist society was a war hero.
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Machismo: fascists expressed disdain for women and homosexuals, whom they regarded as weak.
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Selective populism: populism is a political strategy where an appeal is made to people who feel unrepresented by the political system.
But fascists where very selective in what kind of person they upheld as the "voice of the people."
- Use of an impoverished vocabulary: fascism was anti-intellectual, in part to limit the critical thinking skills of the people.
Sep 24
They didn’t want to accept the modern times so in turn they convinced themselves of a false narrative to support that decision.
Sep 24
Oluwadamilola F
Oluwadamilola F
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fear of the unknown can lead to many problems with trust, be sure to get to know the unknown and not be scared to take risks
Sep 24
Oluwadamilola F
Oluwadamilola F
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sometimes change can make you feel certain ways and they're not always good either
Sep 24
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Fascists were almost worshipful toward the military and militarism.
Sep 24
Oluwadamilola F
Oluwadamilola F
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what if you make a mistake and you misunderstood something and you've already acted and there's no turning back? Think before you act, just don't take too long
Sep 24
Maya D
Maya D
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I think that this is so wrong because it doesn't allow for any changes to happen or new ideas to come around.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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They believed that people should dominate or be dominated. The leader can have a mind of his own and everyone else submits.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Solomon W
Solomon W
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I can only imagine what people who were different went through. What if you had a different hair color? or eye color?
Sep 24
Mia D
Mia D
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So their was no "being your own person"?
Just imagine if you really were different what you had to go through in order for others not to find out b/c of the consequences.
[Edited]
Sep 24
Maya D
Maya D
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Those thoughts are still presence today all over the world, even in America, they still see women and homosexuals as weaklings and not equals.
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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There may be no current fascist governments, but the ideology is definitely still out there.
Sep 24
Tahj M
Tahj M
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They aint the only ones that did it homosexuality throughout almost all of history has been completely frowned upon
General Document Comments 0
Sep 24
Fatara M
Fatara M
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Would they rather stay traditional and prehistoric or advance with the rest of world?
Sep 24
basically hated people who weren’t them.
Sep 24
Fatara M
Fatara M
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Honestly, violence isn't made for everyone and this itself is closed-minded.
Sep 24
Italian fascists believed that they were betrayed.
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