By Alex Robson, Senior News Editor
In Fascism is a Lie, Hemingway wrote, “There is only one form of government that cannot produce good writers, and that system is fascism”. It stands for more than a political ideology: a tight-knit political allegory that is somewhat interchangeable with that of Orwell’s 1984, focusing solely on authoritarianism and the suppression of subjects and creatives within a state. Today, fascism shed much of the militaristic image most of us conjure. Instead, it thrives in the guise of populist, cultural rhetoric. Modern movements often manipulate democratic norms to their advantage, weaponising elections, judicial systems and media narratives to entrench such nonsensical power. So, what has history taught us about fascism, and why now, in our political climate, is it something to navigate? To understand such a question, one must confer with the distinct traits that are found in a fascist government:
-Weaponised Nationalism
-The death of Democracy, a concentration of power in the hands of the small elite.
-The marginalisation of opposing voices, often through media.
-A narrative that fosters division, separating ethnic and societal groups.
Now, what is important to note is that in the modern world, no political party will label themselves as fascists to the media due to its ties to fear and neo-Nazism. Its concept can often be disguised in clouds of patriotism, and so it is often difficult for one to distinguish their own political alignment under such a regime. Its multifaceted nature has somewhat swept throughout America and Europe in the last couple of years. Far-right parties, such as Reform in the UK, have gained popularity mainly through the medium of anti-immigration policies and undermining liberal values. As for the U.S., their situation grows ever more troubling; the rise of Trump has spotlighted themes of nationalism, militarism, and disdain for democratic norms, going as far as declaring that, as of 20th of January 2025, there are to be “only two genders from now on”. Now, without diving into whatever Elon Musk’s questionable hand movement may have been at the most recent political rally, it is clear that Trump is employing political power in a small elite, most of whom, like Musk, should be nowhere near it.
America’s political scene, now dominated by elitist white males, is becoming rapidly dangerous as most European media is somehow centred around the movements of the U.S. Something needs to change, that much is true, or the next era of politics will focus on fascist, patriotic and indeed, patriarchal policies, without many of a state’s subjects being aware of it. Modern-day fascism poses a troubling challenge as democracy continues to be bullied into a corner, it is now simultaneously a product of our times and a reminder of some of history’s darkest chapters. Like a shadow, it will continue to spread if its traits remain unbeknownst to us, it may possibly be even too late, as one who controls the media controls the world. However, if history has indeed taught us anything, it is the nature of humanity to crave freedom, and so perhaps fascism may fade away like a cowboy to the sunset, or maybe not. For those like us, not part of the ruling elite, it is certainly our duty to spread awareness of such regimes and reduce a government’s ability to suppress its subjects.
Foster different perspectives, we must, or perhaps, we ought to start ordering one another to have an Orwell novel in one hand, and crossed fingers in the other.
Image Credit: Markus Spiske via Unsplash