What exactly qualifies someone as “fascist” now?

[GutsAP]

I see a lot of physical assault, intimidation, doxxing, censorship, etc being justified because the victims are “fascists”, but what exactly does that mean today?

[united]

If you support nationalistic right wing politics and government, you’re a fascist.

[Moadar]

Anyone that the left disagrees with. When you cant debate someone's point you just slap a label on them.

[NED funded]

Disagreeing with leftists. If you don't fully support the revolution you are fascists or an enabler of one.

The leftists ruined the label.

[PC2]

It's just 2019 politics. Anybody on the right is a Nazi fascist. Anybody on the left is a commie.

[Endus]

I see a lot of physical assault, intimidation, doxxing, censorship, etc being justified because the victims are “fascists”, but what exactly does that mean today?

I find Umberto Eco's 14 general principles of fascism the clearest definition, in practice. They speak to the character of the movement itself, rather than particular specifics which may or may not apply. Borrowed shamelessly off Wikipedia;

1> "The Cult of Tradition", characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by Tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.

2> "The Rejection of modernism", which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.

3> "The Cult of Action for Action's Sake", which dictates that action is of value in itself, and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.

4> "Disagreement Is Treason" – Fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.

5> "Fear of Difference", which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.

6> "Appeal to a Frustrated Middle Class", fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.

7> "Obsession with a Plot" and the hyping-up of an enemy threat. This often combines an appeal to xenophobia with a fear of disloyalty and sabotage from marginalized groups living within the society (such as the German elite's 'fear' of the 1930s Jewish populace's businesses and well-doings; see also anti-Semitism). Eco also cites Pat Robertson's book The New World Order as a prominent example of a plot obsession.

8> Fascist societies rhetorically cast their enemies as "at the same time too strong and too weak." On the one hand, fascists play up the power of certain disfavored elites to encourage in their followers a sense of grievance and humiliation. On the other hand, fascist leaders point to the decadence of those elites as proof of their ultimate feebleness in the face of an overwhelming popular will.

9> "Pacifism is Trafficking with the Enemy" because "Life is Permanent Warfare" – there must always be an enemy to fight. Both fascist Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini worked first to organize and clean up their respective countries and then build the war machines that they later intended to and did use, despite Germany being under restrictions of the Versailles treaty to NOT build a military force. This principle leads to a fundamental contradiction within fascism: the incompatibility of ultimate triumph with perpetual war.

10> "Contempt for the Weak", which is uncomfortably married to a chauvinistic popular elitism, in which every member of society is superior to outsiders by virtue of belonging to the in-group. Eco sees in these attitudes the root of a deep tension in the fundamentally hierarchical structure of fascist polities, as they encourage leaders to despise their underlings, up to the ultimate Leader who holds the whole country in contempt for having allowed him to overtake it by force.

11> "Everybody is Educated to Become a Hero", which leads to the embrace of a cult of death. As Eco observes, "[t]he Ur-Fascist hero is impatient to die. In his impatience, he more frequently sends other people to death."

12> "Machismo", which sublimates the difficult work of permanent war and heroism into the sexual sphere. Fascists thus hold "both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality."

13> "Selective Populism" – The People, conceived monolithically, have a Common Will, distinct from and superior to the viewpoint of any individual. As no mass of people can ever be truly unanimous, the Leader holds himself out as the interpreter of the popular will (though truly he dictates it). Fascists use this concept to delegitimize democratic institutions they accuse of "no longer represent[ing] the Voice of the People."

14> "Newspeak" – Fascism employs and promotes an impoverished vocabulary in order to limit critical reasoning.

Any one particular element isn't enough to qualify anything as "fascist", but once you get to a plurality of those features, the label starts to become meaningful.

[anveena]

Anyone that the alt left doesn't like.

[Elegiac]

I find Umberto Eco's 14 general principles of fascism the clearest definition, in practice. They speak to the character of the movement itself, rather than particular specifics which may or may not apply. Borrowed shamelessly off Wikipedia;

1> "The Cult of Tradition", characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by Tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.

2> "The Rejection of modernism", which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.

3> "The Cult of Action for Action's Sake", which dictates that action is of value in itself, and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.

4> "Disagreement Is Treason" – Fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.

5> "Fear of Difference", which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.

6> "Appeal to a Frustrated Middle Class", fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.

7> "Obsession with a Plot" and the hyping-up of an enemy threat. This often combines an appeal to xenophobia with a fear of disloyalty and sabotage from marginalized groups living within the society (such as the German elite's 'fear' of the 1930s Jewish populace's businesses and well-doings; see also anti-Semitism). Eco also cites Pat Robertson's book The New World Order as a prominent example of a plot obsession.

8> Fascist societies rhetorically cast their enemies as "at the same time too strong and too weak." On the one hand, fascists play up the power of certain disfavored elites to encourage in their followers a sense of grievance and humiliation. On the other hand, fascist leaders point to the decadence of those elites as proof of their ultimate feebleness in the face of an overwhelming popular will.

9> "Pacifism is Trafficking with the Enemy" because "Life is Permanent Warfare" – there must always be an enemy to fight. Both fascist Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini worked first to organize and clean up their respective countries and then build the war machines that they later intended to and did use, despite Germany being under restrictions of the Versailles treaty to NOT build a military force. This principle leads to a fundamental contradiction within fascism: the incompatibility of ultimate triumph with perpetual war.

10> "Contempt for the Weak", which is uncomfortably married to a chauvinistic popular elitism, in which every member of society is superior to outsiders by virtue of belonging to the in-group. Eco sees in these attitudes the root of a deep tension in the fundamentally hierarchical structure of fascist polities, as they encourage leaders to despise their underlings, up to the ultimate Leader who holds the whole country in contempt for having allowed him to overtake it by force.

11> "Everybody is Educated to Become a Hero", which leads to the embrace of a cult of death. As Eco observes, "[t]he Ur-Fascist hero is impatient to die. In his impatience, he more frequently sends other people to death."

12> "Machismo", which sublimates the difficult work of permanent war and heroism into the sexual sphere. Fascists thus hold "both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality."

13> "Selective Populism" – The People, conceived monolithically, have a Common Will, distinct from and superior to the viewpoint of any individual. As no mass of people can ever be truly unanimous, the Leader holds himself out as the interpreter of the popular will (though truly he dictates it). Fascists use this concept to delegitimize democratic institutions they accuse of "no longer represent[ing] the Voice of the People."

14> "Newspeak" – Fascism employs and promotes an impoverished vocabulary in order to limit critical reasoning.

Any one particular element isn't enough to qualify anything as "fascist", but once you get to a plurality of those features, the label starts to become meaningful.

Pretty much this - Eco's is probably the closest definition of "fascist" we are likely to get.

The problem is not leftists applying the label to anything and everything; the problem is that the right wing increasingly adopts positions that are analogous to those found in most fascist movements.

[Moadar]

Pretty much this - Eco's is probably the closest definition of "fascist" we are likely to get.

The problem is not leftists applying the label to anything and everything; the problem is that the right wing increasingly adopts positions that are analogous to those found in most fascist movements.

Fair number of those apply to leftists as well. When everyone's a fascist no ones a fascist I guess.

[Santti]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defini...sm#Umberto_Eco

That's a good list, in my opinion.

Also, what doxxing and censorship?

Doxxing, as in, the thread about contacting the employers of fascists, using the information they themselves have put on the internet? That's not "doxxing", in any meaningful way. Looking up where Trump lives would be "doxxing". Me putting my phone number here, and someone calling it, would be "doxxing".

Censorship, as in, denying the microphone/platform? That's not censorship (government is not involved). That's freedom of speech, and freedom of association. If you can't handle a private entity showing you the door for being a cunt, then stop being a cunt. Taking the add revenue from your videos on youtube and such? People don't want their ads being associated with cunts, it hurts their image.

And violence? Assuming we are talking about the US, what's the body count of left-wing terrorism, again? Last person killed was decades a go. Right wing terrorism? Hundreds of people, and recently, too.

Ah, too slow on Umberto.

[Ihavewaffles]

I see a lot of physical assault, intimidation, doxxing, censorship, etc being justified because the victims are “fascists”, but what exactly does that mean today?

It means the same thing yesterday for leftists, hyperbole finger-pointing is nothing new, the only new thing is that there are suddenly enough not so bright people listening to that leftist propaganda..

[draynay]

People probably shouldn't bother making thoughtful answers to what seems to be a clear bait thread to gather the anti-left echo chamber and let them bellow at each other.

The definition of the word hasn't changed, the only people who would argue it has are pursuing an agenda.

[s_bushido]

Anyone that the left disagrees with.

What happened to "calling a spade a spade?" Or does that only apply when we're talking about people whose views and actions you don't agree with?

[united]

People probably shouldn't bother making thoughtful answers to what seems to be a clear bait thread to gather the anti-left echo chamber and let them bellow at each other.

The definition of the word hasn't changed, the only people who would argue it has are pursuing an agenda.

Yep. The replies by snowflake conservatives when the definition of facist is loud and clear shows insecurity about the fact that they may in fact be fascists.

[Elegiac]

Fair number of those apply to leftists as well. When everyone's a fascist no ones a fascist I guess.

Such as? Actual examples please, not caricatures of leftists that live in your head.

Just so you're aware, it's a trick question - most of these beliefs are mutually exclusive with the philosophical underpinnings of left wing ideology.

[Moadar]

What happened to "calling a spade a spade?" Or does that only apply when we're talking about people whose views and actions you don't agree with?

Do what you want but realize you are no different than people who use labels to dehumanize people outright. It's a popular thing with racists too.

[NED funded]

What happened to "calling a spade a spade?" Or does that only apply when we're talking about people whose views and actions you don't agree with?

When you start beating people, it isn't just "calling a spade a spade".

[Xarkan]

It's just 2019 politics. Anybody on the right is a Nazi fascist. Anybody on the left is a commie.

Is that a joke though?

Because pretty much everyone left of center (and in the US a lot of those right of center) have always been called communists, accused of supporting mao and stalin, etc.

That part is old news (well allways possibly only after Marx and Stalin and Mao for obvious reasons)

[Elegiac]

When you start beating people, it isn't just "calling a spade a spade".

Enforcement of the Overton Window is perfectly legitimate.

Fascism is one of those unfortunate ideologies that cannot be tolerated in public discourse by virtue of how corrosive it is to said discourse.

[Kumorii]

"I don't like you"