"In 2020, National Public Radio interviewed #JasonStanley, a professor of philosophy at Yale University, regarding his book How #Fascism Works: The #Politics of Us and Them. Stanley defined fascism as 'a cult of the leader who promises national restoration in the face of humiliation brought on by supposed communists, Marxists and minorities and immigrants who are supposedly posing a threat to the character and the history of a nation' and

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further observed that "The leader proposes that only he can solve it and all of his political opponents are enemies or traitors.'

In his book, How Fascism Works, Stanley focuses on fascist politics in much more detail than fascist states, as he says the latter vary significantly by time and location and

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are only loosely characterized by 'ultra nationalism of some variety (ethnic, religious, cultural), with the nation represented in the person of an authoritarian leader who speaks on its behalf.'  However, the specific political tactics first used to attain power in a democracy are more similar and more easily characterized.

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These tactics are designed to divide the population into an 'Us' (e.g., native-born residents) and a 'Them' (e.g., immigrants) and to justify a 'targeting of ideological enemies and the freeing of all restraints in combating them'.

Jason Stanley uses the United States (under Donald #Trump), India (under Modi), Hungary (under #Orbán), and Brazil (under #Bolsonaro) to illustrate the following tactics typical of fascist politics:

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1. The mythical past—used to invoke a nostalgia for a fictional time when the nation was great as it was not yet sullied by the 'Other.'
2. Propaganda—to attack enemies, to justify violence, to justify laws against 'Them' and to support the authoritarian leader.
3. Anti-intellectualism—to attack the media, universities, and scientists when they contradict the strong man’s authority.

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4. Unreality—supporting conspiracy theories that tarnish the 'Other' along with an outright denial of facts when convenient.
5. Hierarchy—espousing a 'natural order' where the 'Us' are hardworking, moral, law-abiding and productive members of society, while the 'Other' is not.
6. Victimhood—casting 'Us' as victims of 'Them', who are taking resources from 'Us' and demanding special rights.
7. Law and order—using laws to justify violence, oppression, and expulsion of the 'Other'.

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8. Sexual anxiety—as the 'Other' embraces non-traditional approaches to sexuality,
9. Appeals to the heartland—as rural communities are often more homogeneous and conservative (more 'Us') while urban cities are often more diverse, cosmopolitan (more 'Them').
10. Dismantling of public welfare and unity—by casting aside safety net programs as unfair giveaways to 'Them', who are not working, as opposed to 'Us', who are."

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Definitions of fascism - Wikipedia

The 10 tactics of fascism | Jason Stanley | Big Think

The 10 tactics of fascism, with Jason StanleySubscribe to Big Think on YouTube ►► https://www.youtube.com/c/bigthinkUp next ►►"Never Again?" How fascism hija...

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JB_SCOTTY (@[email protected])

Die #Faschismusdebatte ist vorbei. Die Professoren, die früher gezögert haben, diesen Begriff zu benutzen, haben längst aufgegeben. Der Historiker Samuel Moyn, ein Kollege von mir, hat kürzlich gesagt: "Okay, das ist #Faschismus." https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-03/jason-stanley-donald-trump-wissenschaft-usa-timothy-snyder-kanada/komplettansicht

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3 Ivy League scholars plan to leave US and teach in Canada amid Trump administration’s higher education battle

Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley plans to leave the prestigious Ivy League university for Toronto with colleagues Marci Shore and Timothy Snyder as the Trump administration’s battle with higher education in the US continues.

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We’re Experts in Fascism. We’re Leaving the U.S. | NYT Opinion

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Anti-Fascism Scholar Flees U.S. Amid Trump's "Antifa" Fearmongering

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Fascism expert has FLED THE COUNTRY

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