Warnings about have become quite fashionable. The concern that if former President wins in November America will descend into fascism pervades many leading publications, resides atop numerous bestseller lists, and sits on the tip of many prominent tongues. Yale University professor and author of the bestseller , Jason Stanley, recently this way: "We have a classic fascist situation in this country right now.
Trump is a fascist leader who intends to overthrow the country and democracy—and he's very good at it." Leading commentator and former United States Labor Secretary Robert Reich likewise there are "alarming parallels between Nazism and MAGAism" and that "Donald Trump is a fascist." There's a problem with these and other ominous warnings about fascism.
They're fundamentally confused. Fascism is a specific form of political system. It has a variety of definitions, but most agree it contains these three elements: extreme nationalism, a dictatorial strongman, and violent suppression of the opposition.
Merriam Webster as follows: "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." Adolf Hitler was a fascist strongman in Germany. Benito Mussolini was in Italy.
Francisco Franco in Spain. They who broadly controlled their government.
