Umberto Eco (a survivor of Mussolini’s actual regime) identified this as one of the core traits of Ur-Fascism. Specifically, #8…
The followers must feel humiliated by the ostentatious wealth and force of their enemies.… However, the followers must be convinced that they can overwhelm the enemies. Thus, by a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak.
You will note that Republicans check literally every single box of Umberto Eco’s list.
I think of this every time I see some egregiously fascist behavior on display in the Trump admin getting defended by people who think the left is overreacting. I wish more people knew about this and understood that it’s not some left wing looney saying it, it’s a guy who lived through it and can identify it for what it truly is.
Umberto Eco (a survivor of Mussolini’s actual regime) identified this as one of the core traits of Ur-Fascism. Specifically, #8…
You will note that Republicans check literally every single box of Umberto Eco’s list.
https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/umberto-eco-ur-fascism
That was my same thought. The enemy is too strong but also too weak?
I am always glad when people share this because whenever I bring it up IRL it seems like nobody else has read it.
I think of this every time I see some egregiously fascist behavior on display in the Trump admin getting defended by people who think the left is overreacting. I wish more people knew about this and understood that it’s not some left wing looney saying it, it’s a guy who lived through it and can identify it for what it truly is.
We are outnumbered, as usual.
But we also outnumber THEM!
That’s n-
You know yeah okay yes, good point