Characteristics of a Fascist Citizen (Italy, 1922-1945) copy 02
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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
Dearion T
Dearion T
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Americans does the same thing tell false thing about our history or not the whole truth
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Many countries do not want to have an honest reckoning with the past.
Sep 24
Jadore P
Jadore P
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A lot of pressure was put on their shoulders...how could they just expect someone to make a wise decision without considering other options?
Sep 24
Tatyana J
Tatyana J
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This seems like it was the survival of the fittest. So they were told not to second guess themselves.
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Many fascists believed in "Social Darwinism" (which is not based in science or Darwin's actual theories).
Sep 24
Cortez M
Cortez M
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this shows how much things over time changes because in today age if you dont think before you act you are considered wild or delinquent
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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It's almost the exact opposite of what most of us are taught. Although I want to point out that this idea was not "normal" for the time, but it was normalIZED in Italy.
Sep 24
Brian S
Brian S
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They thought that reality was created by power, that a very weird and scary out on reality it's self.
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People who think like this must of have e something tragic happen to them in their life to think like this.
Sep 24
Jadore P
Jadore P
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They were so big on having someone in control because change intimidates them!
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Yes, they did not like change. Fascism is a very backward looking philosophy. Mussolini claimed he wanted to reestablish the Roman Empire!
Sep 24
Latrace S
Latrace S
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This relates to racism. You can't not like someone because they're different than you, that's not right.
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Fascism is generally understood as a deeply racist and xenophobic ideology.
Sep 24
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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There are definite connections between European fascism and white racism in the U.S.
Sep 24
Tia J
Tia J
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This is similar to what's going on now, racism. People judge or have hate for someone because they're not like them, whether they're black or white, rich or poor, etc.
Sep 24
Lauren W
Lauren W
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They plugged in their brain that they should hate everyone that is not like them. Reminds me of racism
Sep 24
I feel not having the right to express your opinion or the idea of a ‘brainwashed’ society is extremely scary and dangerous.
Sep 24
Latrace S
Latrace S
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It's weird how they turned their anger and frustrations on the group that has the least amount of power. Maybe try looking at the people in charge...
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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Truly baffling! The people causing your problems are the only people worse off than you are? Seems outrageous, but many people still believe things like this.
Sep 24
Carvel K
Carvel K
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How can the enemies be considered "strong" or "powerful" when they're abusing their power and preying on the innocent.
Sep 24
Brian S
Brian S
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A person who disagrees with fascists should not be treated as a threat or a weakling, or even both for that matter.
[Edited]
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These fascists were crazy, paranoid, and over all just terrible in every way.
Sep 24
Naseem W
Naseem W
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You cant force anyone to do anything. I would rather had been called a betrayor.
Sep 24
Alexander C
Alexander C
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There were many Italians who resisted fascism, but they had to do so in secret or risk imprisonment/execution.
Sep 24
Diana B
Diana B
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What do they mean by the ideal man in fascist society was a war hero? Was there something deeper to this
Sep 24
Latrace S
Latrace S
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It's funny how the men expressed disdain for women. If you don't like women then you must like men, so maybe they were the homosexuals they expressed disdain for.
Sep 24
Lauren W
Lauren W
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This reminds me how it was back then. If you were not a man that took care of everything then you had less control and were weak
Sep 24
Carvel K
Carvel K
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It's a shame how they degrade women & homosexuals. What does their identity have anything to do with what they're capable of accomplishing?
Sep 24
Tatyana J
Tatyana J
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Why did they assume that they were weak? What do they think they did that made them stronger?
Sep 24
Teanna C
Teanna C
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I guess this was away to stop people from thinking before acting like in number 4 was talking about.
Sep 24
Brian S
Brian S
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I guess if they didn't let people learn they would be oblivious to what they are doing.
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I mean it seems like a bad idea anyway. Without knowledge how could even fight in a war let alone win one.
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