As I have most probably had written previously here in the DJOP newsletter and discussed on the radio program I host, Jewish Perspectives on the News and Politics on WWDB (860 AM, Tuesdays at 10AM) I have had numerous discussions with friends regarding the use of the term Fascism to describe the US government under Donald Trump. I have somewhat disagreed with this definition as I believe that Fascism describes an ideology and Weltanschauung or world view that goes well beyond what we are currently living through here in America. I pretty much held that the Trump administration, especially his first term in office, was more a reflection of Trump’s personal whims, prejudices, and overarching belief in his own wisdom, as ill advised, often bizarre and as malevolent as it might be. But as each day of my observing Trump’s reign, I realize I might well be very wrong.
And to use a phrase often used to describe antisemitism, for the first time, fascism might well be “rearing its ugly head” in America.
The word Fascism was first used by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini almost 100 years ago to describe his political movement and the armed bullies he recruited who helped him seize power in post-World War I Italy. They used the fasces, a bundle of rods surrounding an ax as a symbol of the newly unified Italian people obedient to the government and especially the head of state. Revealingly Mussolini chose the title Duce to describe his role, meaning leader in Italian, rather than Prime Minister or President. Adolf Hitler chose the term Fuhrer. meaning the same thing, although his official title was the less imposing Chancellor
But even in the middle of the second world war George Orwell lamented in his essay about fascism that the accusation was being used somewhat too loosely. An article in a British magazine noted in 2009 that, “Broadly speaking, in political discourse, it is a term used more for purposes of condemnation than precise categorization.” Lachlan Montague, an Australian expert of dictatorship has written “the term ‘fascist’ has been used as an insult so much [that] it has diluted the meaning, and in particular the evil nature the word carries.”
The best definition I personally know of is by Robert O. Paxton, professor emeritus at Columbia University, who is widely thought of as the founder of fascism studies. He views it as both a political movement and practice. According to Paxton it arouses popular enthusiasm and support using ” highly sophisticated but emotional propaganda techniques for an anti-liberal, anti-social, exclusionary, typically expansionist nationalist agenda”.
Furthermore, it seeks to create a mass nationalist movement intended to restore a country that believes it has been profoundly harmed or at the very least is in decline, often by inclusion of “outsiders” in its population. This harm is usually brought about by real or perceived enemies, internal as well as external and by threats to chosen and trusted authority. Thus, considering these threats the replacement of democracy by an authoritarian dictatorship is sometimes necessary to save and restore the nation as well as the restoration of traditional and often sacred values. Paxton and others asserted that mobilizing massive popular passions typically are an essential aspect of fascism. Thus, large rallies with cheering crowds and the use of patriotic symbols and regalia are common. Do red baseball hats with political statements written on them qualify?
Again, the promulgation of the belief that one’s group is under existential threat is a key sentiment which justifies any action against the group’s enemies, internal as well as external. The internal threat is based upon the belief of the group’s vulnerability that can be caused by either the corrosive effects of individualistic and cosmopolitan liberalism or by unlimited universalism. At times these threats must be responded to by force as there is no other choice.
Numerous studies of dictatorships, and obviously there are other forms of despotic government that are not Fascist, assert that they are most often led by those (almost always men) who claim that only they can rescue a nation or a people.
Does any of this seem familiar? Let us briefly look at some of the alleged attributes and accomplishments of our current President who often sees himself in terms of his outstanding leadership ability, his genius intellect, his unique qualifications to negotiate with heads of state whose interests are hardly compatible with ours as well as his deserving of recognition historically reserved for long dead leaders such as being portrayed on coinage and along with Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln.
But there are much more deeply disturbing similarities between Trump and authentic Fascists like Mussolini, Hitler, and Spain’s long-serving Francisco Franco, who chose the title El Caudillo, which also means the leader. While Trump appears to believe that he has the prerogative of these role models yet he does not seem to have selected a special title but from his actions His Majesty might be under consideration.
There is a saying that was often used to describe leftwing Americans that were alleged Communists during the McCarthy era that went ” If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it probably is a duck”. I think we might be seeing some duck like behavior coming out of Washington.
Now that Trump finally admits that the far-right repressive action plan entitled PROJECT 2025 is in fact, despite his denials, his blueprint for governing it is instructive to look at some of the actions of well recognized Fascist dictators that he has adopted. There is the use of the judicial systems to charge their opposition with crimes including treason, the creation of well-armed paramilitaries who are charged with control of the citizenry and authorized to use violence against civilians, especially those who were members of minority communities, the taking complete control of the curricula at universities as well as what was taught at institutions of secondary education and students were encouraged and rewarded to report teachers who were critical of governmental policies, the firing and even incarceration of educators and governmental employees that they felt are accused of being disloyal to the leader the employ replacements based on their loyalty rather than any other qualifications, control of what is allowed for the media to cover or report, the deportation of unwanted foreigners and prevention of further immigration . Often members of these communities are seen as a threat to the nation’s security or at least homogeneity and perhaps even purity.
As I watch the news each evening it becomes obvious to me that the words we use to describe our nation governed by Trump and leadership roles filled with mean spirited sycophants is not so important. What matters is what the nation stands for and what we are willing to tolerate from the government. We can refuse and reject leadership that regularly violates all norms of decency, compassion and justice or we can watch America follow the path that led once admirable societies to enter a moral swamp.
We know all too well where the current administration will lead us. It is not yet too late to return to what makes America the light unto the nations as it was once seen but it the societal clock is ticking and getting louder each day. The next Presidential election is not soon enough and a new Congress will not be elected until a year from now. But we can start at the very least by making sure that the Republican attempt to remove our Democratic state judges for the sin of being Democrats and competent fails miserably. To paraphrase an old ad about preventing forest fires “only we can prevent a dictatorship from ruining our country”.
