Back in 2015 and into 2016, some folk were inclined to start using one particular word to describe some other folk. The ‘F’ word. Because these other folk subscribed to politics of the populist variety. Their language? A little bit 1930s. Bigotry? It was unmistakable. The whiff of ‘F’ permeated the following four years, especially so in both the UK and the USA. There was, I’d argue, justification for those folk to use the ‘F’ word to describe the other folk.
But the other folk didn’t much like being on the receiving end of a derogatory label. They’re a thin skinned bunch who can give it, but are not so ready to take it. And there were some folk in the middle of all this who were uncomfortable with the ‘F’ word being used so liberally. Americans aren’t Nazis. Most of the time. There is Godwins Law to consider, and it’s a law that shouldn’t be broken willy nilly. And this was a reasonable point, even if it too were over used in defending the indefensible.
We needed a proper litmus test. A genuine fascist regime which these folk would either attach themselves to, or would denounce. Well. We have that regime, do we not? By any definition of the word, Putin’s Russia is a fascist dictatorship. There’s no ifs or buts about it. In a decade or two, Godwins law will need to be replaced with a new one: as an online discussion grows longer (regardless of topic or scope), the probability of a comparison to Russian fascists or Vladimir Putin approaches.
The result of the test is in, and the litmus paper turned bright red with a yellow hammer and sickle on it. A goodly chunk of those hard core Trumpists and Brexiters stood by Vlad. So can we ditch the polite pretence, quit referring to it as the ‘F’ word and just call these other folk fascists now? Can we can a spade a spade? It’s important. We defeat fascism at home firstly by identifying it. No witch hunt required – they always out themselves.
Then we make it socially unacceptable. Like drink driving. Like wife beating. Like bullying. I wouldn’t sit for a drink with those sort of folk. I wouldn’t sit and be chummy with a fascist. It’s way past time that the good folk of the world took a stand to Make Fascism Socially Unacceptable Again. Put that on your hat…
The photo is of the Wall of Legality in Palermo. It is a tribute to the folk who fought the mafia and helped deliver freedom for the people of Sicily. Freedom is never free. The longer the oppressor is allowed free reign, the higher the cost.
The Mexile 
I spent the last week with my extended family, a fair amount of my time was spent defining the parameters of Fascist thought and behavior. The idea that just because a political movement does not declare itself a fascist organ, does not mean that it is not a plain sun dried bunch of fascists; a hard thought to drive through. A week was not enough.
I started with China, a professed communist state, it is a no more a leftist form of government than the group that runs my state. In truth, China is run by the most hard boiled group of right wing, fascist flag waving nutjobs on the planet. Lefty communists they are not.
My hectoring was aimed at maybe letting in a little light, as to how deep down the rabbit hole, our own nation has gone in its love affair with fascism. It is dark in a rabbit hole Gary. Keep shining the light.
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It’s awkward when these folk are family members. You have to persevere rather than purge. The word rabbit hole is exactly right.
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I’ve read definitions of “fascist”, “authoritarian”, “dictatorial”, “totalitarian” and so on, and it gets murky. With regard to Putin, “war criminal” works for me.
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I disagree Al. Folk might change some of the words about, or go into a bit more detail, but fascism is a pretty well defined concept. There’s nothing murky about it at all. I’ll drop half a dozen common definitions at the bottom. You tell me which one is fundamentally different from another, and which one doesn’t apply to Putin. I think you’ll struggle.
And it is important we identify it. It doesn’t appear out of nowhere. And it has consequences. But here is where it is murky. The wolves in sheeps clothing. In the UK, we’ve had a bona fide fascist in Nigel Farage, being polite enough so that he’s been given a platform on national media outlets for decades – especially the BBC. He maintained enough of his core belief that a reasonable person could point to him and call him what he is. But he got away with it because we thought ‘that couldn’t happen here’ and he wasn’t confronted in the right way.
Most European nations have a somewhat more complicated relationship with fascism. The Le Pens in France and the AfD in Germany have long been called out for what they were and as a result they failed to get traction beyond the hard core fascists that always exist. So they’ve addressed their tone, excised some of the most obvious and extreme cases from their movements and are rebranding themselves as the ‘acceptable face of the far right’. And they have both been rewarded in the polls, because folk have stopped calling them what they are. They’re the same people, Al. They’re still fascists. Look at the support they’re getting and tell yourself there’s nowt to worry about.
The above examples are all wannabes, as is Trump. But Putin is every bit a fit for the term fascist as any former German leader. No exceptions. And he’s been appeased for twenty years. And look where we are now. ‘War criminal’ most definitely doesn’t cut the mustard when describing the man and his regime. And the people over here who support him? They’re supporting fascism. No ifs and buts. Even if some of them are too dumb to realise it.
Al, these folk don’t need massive majorities to get in to power. They have their base, and then if they can rile up another similarly sized portion of the population, then they get in. And they only ever try to go in the one direction from there. Because, of course, they are fascists. What are you expecting of them, other than: see definitions at the end of this rant.
The world is going dangerous places, and it’s never because of folk who called out the fascists. It’s helped along with the folk who are part of that movement, side with that movement and/or tolerate that movement. I think we’re over the worst of our dabble with it in the UK. And there’s less inclination towards that way of thinking to start with. Parts of Europe have some concerning times ahead.
But the US more than most seems in danger of falling down that rabbit hole. I’m minded to assume it won’t. But as far as I’m concerned, half the battle is in making fascism socially unacceptable. And we all know a few of them. You’ll not rescue the hardcore Putin fans like Michael Dickson, and probably not Kim either. But there are others. I certainly don’t have anyone in my circle of friends who would be tempted to goose-step.
Merriam-Webster
often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
Britannica
a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government
Cambridge
a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country and race, and in which political opposition is not allowed
Collins
is a set of right-wing political beliefs that includes strong control of society and the economy by the state, a powerful role for the armed forces, and the stopping of political opposition.
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