No, Fascism is Not Dead.

This is an opinion article, the opinions of the author do not reflect what The Inquirer believes as an organization.

The belief that fascism has been defeated and that the majority of the world is free to love and create is inherently flawed and untrue. An estimated 27 million people still live in some form of slavery today, 2 million more than the 25 million slaves that were recorded in 1860. Only 38 nations have legalized same-sex marriage, and only 8% of the world lives in true democracies. Yes, it is true that we have never been as free as the present, but that does not mean that there is no work to do against authoritarianism and fascism.

Photograph: Getty Images

At its very core, fascism is an ideology that empowers the state and believes that certain groups are naturally superior to others. When enforcing these beliefs, fascist governments embrace militarism-claiming that they are “squashing the weaklings” and “fostering tradition and strength”. Dear readers, the fascism we now bear witness to in the modern world has greatly shifted and molded itself according to the times. No longer are propagandists spreading lies on pamphlets and radios. Instead, they opt for social media, YouTube, and podcasts to indoctrinate disenfranchised groups with their soul-soothing hate-driven rhetoric. It is important to mention that not all right-wing political ideologies are inherently good or bad, just the same for left-wing politics. We have seen the destructive effects of communism AND fascism, but to think that either side of the politics is evil is absurd. Fascism is an extremely rewarding political ideology, especially to those who are able to implement and justify its use in modern politics. We can see fascism being useful to the wealthy elite who seek to take advantage of a country or region’s population or resources, which can be even better if they live under a regime or doctrine that naturally separates communities by alienating each other. Put simply, fascism utilizes hate and perceived authority to brainwash its followers so much that the truly rich and powerful are able to conduct their affairs in the shadows of party loyalty. 

To be extremely clear, hate is never alright. Since when was it alright to discriminate against LGBTQ+ communities for simply being themselves and their sexuality? I am extremely straight, yet it does not mean that my sexuality is inherently “correct”, nor does it mean that I have the privilege to look down on and dismiss others’ identities as impure or disgusting. When studying the rise of fascist regimes, the tactic of weaponizing hate against certain groups has always been prevalent. Hitler framed the Jews as traitors and inferior. White America created pseudoscientific explanations to prove that their black slaves had hindered cognitive ability and were not as capable as the white man. It is my opinion that we are now seeing this tactic used across society through the internet. On Instagram and TikTok, users are bound to see clips of podcasts or rallies demonizing members of other religions, other nationalities, people who disagree with them, or those who have different sexualities outside their comfort zone. One might wonder why fascists rely on this technique to isolate their target audiences into an echo chamber. The answer is plain and simple; it gets the job done. Hitler took advantage of the post-war economic and political turmoil of the Weimar Republic to pin the hate on Jewish and minority populations. His speeches and media convinced the populace that their shortfalls were not the product of their own creations but were in fact the result of plots or schemes designed by the minorities to take over the nation and rid their people. Like him or not, Hitler was a master at public perception. He was able to create a cult of personality, tying his very name and identity to a “strong” and “powerful” Germany. We are seeing this technique resurface on the internet. Now, the blame is not only pinned on racial minorities, but also on gays, trans, or queer people. 

It is at this point that I ask those who seriously believe that any population is inferior this one simple question: If it were your head on the chopping block, how would you feel? How would it feel to be ridiculed and pelted with hateful comments and political messaging of priests and “activists” alike calling you ungodly, as people who are weak? Then what happens when governments do not allow you to properly love your soulmate, people who you would so gratefully take a bullet for? What happens when supremacists have been harassing your people, and your culture for hundreds of years? When you do fight back, you get called terrorists and shot with high-pressure water cannons in peaceful protests? How does it feel to be judged by what they think you are…rather than the contents of your consciousness? 

Ladies and gentlemen, fascism and authoritarianism are not dead. Rather, it has merely changed into casualizing violence and hatred against those who are most vulnerable. Whether is it hatred against sexuality, gender, race, or nationality, it is hatred nonetheless. Fellow readers, do not be engulfed by the blinding effect that is hate. Because when we let our guard down, that is when the oppressors abuse public rhetoric and take hold of our democratic institutions. Ironically, it is the elected individuals of our governments who are the most harrowing of all. Hatred is the first stage of fascism. Unfortunately, we are just starting to see the second stage of modern fascism – the implementation of policies that exacerbate this hatred. This can be seen in policies that inhibit the ability of certain groups to communicate, reach government help, or even express themselves. For example, Hitler’s policies put Jewish businesses at a disadvantage crippled and stopped any hope that the Jews could put up a fight against the Nazi party. 

It is the responsibility of Generation Z and Alpha (yes, even Alpha) to understand the weight of fascism and how social media and the freedom of expression itself can be used for malicious purposes. We cannot afford to stand divided, we cannot afford to be separated by universally insignificant features in our identities while the elites reap the Earth of a future and exploit our humanity to destroy what makes humanity itself truly unique: the ability to be different and tolerate diversity.