I am reacting much the same as Richard Cohen to the ongoing political circus. I’m having an especially difficult time believing the lack of nuance that I’m seeing and hearing of the GOP nomination process.
I am also haunted by the analysis by Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt regarding the characteristics of fascism. Britt compiled his list after analyzing the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile).
- Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
- Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
- Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
- Supremacy of the Military
- Rampant Sexism
- Controlled Mass Media
- Obsession with National Security
- Religion and Government are Intertwined
- Corporate Power is Protected
- Labor Power is Suppressed
- Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
- Obsession with Crime and Punishment
- Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
- Fraudulent Elections
Many of the 14 characteristics of facism can also be found in the political behavior of the actual Conservative government of Canada under Stephen Harper. The PM now has a majority, and feels that he can proceed with his conservative agenda.
One quibble: fascism tended to be hostile to religion. Two quibbles, actually: 10 of those 14 attributes also apply to Communism. 10 of 13, actually, since one of them(religion) applies to neither.
One of the defining characteristics of fascism that you left out:
The attempt to make whatever cause the elite wants to pursue the moral equivalent of war. People who long to rally the country to domestic causes the way the country rallies to war are fascists.