I’m looking forward to seeing the new seasons of Andor. With it has come a new round of claims that the Empire is a prime example of fascism. But there are several kinds of totalitarian systems, and the Empire doesn’t really fit the fascist model. Using the term too loosely takes something away from identification of the real thing. In an earlier post, I discussed the nature of fascism. You may want to read that article before continuing here.
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The word “Fascism,” as it’s too often abused in political discourse, has come to mean nothing more precise than “bad.” There are clearer words for governments that exercise improper power, such as “authoritarian” and “totalitarian.” Fascism is supposed to denote a certain kind of authoritarian system. Writers need to exercise precision when using the word, rather than tossing it around as a general insult.
In its original sense, the word comes from the Fascist Party of Italy and refers to Italy’s government under Benito Mussolini before and during World War II. It’s used more broadly to indicate governments that follow policies similar to Fascist Italy or people who (allegedly) support those policies. Just what are those policies?
The best place to start is with Mussolini’s own words. The History Guide provides some key writings by Mussolini. The page is in English; my Italian isn’t up to any serious reading. Near the beginning we find the most important point:
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