Characteristics of a Fascist Citizen (Italy, 1922-1945) copy 01
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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
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Italy was struggling economically when Mussolini came to power. They blamed modern ideas for making their country weak.
Sep 24
THIS IS PURE STUPIDITY. DISAGREEING IS YOU GIVING YOUR ENTITLED OPINION AND THE OTHER PERSON VAN TAKE THAT AND MAYBE CHANGE THEIR INFORMATION/WAYS OF THINKING! CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS NOWHERE NEAR ATTACKING SOMEONE YOU’LL LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY!
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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It sure seems outrageous to us. Alarming that it seemed totally normal to them for decades.
Sep 24
Alassane B
Alassane B
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In todays day and age constructive critism is a thing that most people like to get.
Sep 24
Sep 24
That seems bias but this was a different time
Sep 24
Being different is key. Nobody is entitled to having the same view as you unless they agree with what your saying.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Refusing to hate people designated "enemies of the nation" was absolutely considered treason.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Wasn’t there violence though…?
Sep 24
If you disagree it is seen as an attack and if you refuse to take part in something you are a traitor.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Militia actions were an important means of exercising power for fascists.
General Document Comments 0
Sep 24
What made them reject it?
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
:
Ultimately it took a world war to end fascism in Italy. But many Italians resisted fascism in secret before that happened.
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