Fascism: What It Is, What It Isn't, And How To Spot It

a reply to: theultimatebelgianjoke

Your forgetting the main definition of fascism and that is Authoritarianism.
en.m.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: dragonridr

As an absolute perception of things ... Most of fascist regimes have their power concentrated in the hands of a single individual but you can still have fascism taking place among a military junta. Some would label that a form of oligarchy but I guess, it's according to the point of view you have on the said politicians.
I think oppressed people are more likely to shout 'fascists !' at their leaders than 'oligarchs !'.
And a single guy can hardly achieve to run a country on its own without a minimal amount of collaborators.

I think you may find the concept of Illiberal democracy interesting.

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: dragonridr

As an absolute perception of things ... Most of fascist regimes have their power concentrated in the hands of a single individual but you can still have fascism taking place among a military junta. Some would label that a form of oligarchy but I guess, it's according to the point of view you have on the said politicians.
I think oppressed people are more likely to shout 'fascists !' at their leaders than 'oligarchs !'.
And a single guy can hardly achieve to run a country on its own without a minimal amount of collaborators.

I think you may find the concept of Illiberal democracy interesting.

Ologharcs would simply be a creation of what's called putinism. It's it's an authoritarian state with managed democracy. He decides how many rights the people has or do not have though not truly fascist its very close. The distinction is some freedoms are approved. Guided democracies are a 21 st century twist on fascism.

en.m.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: dragonridr

Oligarchy is a political regime.
Putinism is a rethorical statement.

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: dragonridr

Oligarchy is a political regime.
Putinism is a rethorical statement.

en.m.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: dragonridr

Americanism is used to make reference to western imperialist policies in Russia. You are just following a certain type of propaganda. It's all about semantics. The suffix '-ism' bears a pejorative aspect, it's never made mention of democratism and despocracy for ex. It's as an empty statement just like Chavinism, Castrism, ...
The ideologies do not even need to be associated with an individual in charge of power : Marxism, MacCarthism, Poujadism ...

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: dragonridr

Americanism is used to make reference to western imperialist policies in Russia. You are just following a certain type of propaganda. It's all about semantics. The suffix '-ism' bears a pejorative aspect, it's never made mention of democratism and despocracy for ex. It's as an empty statement just like Chavinism, Castrism, ...
The ideologies do not even need to be associated with an individual in charge of power : Marxism, MacCarthism, Poujadism ...

May not need to but they do if an individual radically alters a country such as McCarthyism (correct spelling) or putinism. Now amaricanism is a reference to Western culture and its influence feel free to Google it. You may not like the term Putinism but it's a form of govt and a political topic and they have to call his form of policies something.

Russia is a managed democracy meaning he is in charge but gives the illusion of that not being the case.

a reply to: dragonridr

Once again, you follow the propaganda you feel the most confident with.
Pick an actuality event, see how it is reported on Fox News and then on Russia Today, you will end up having very different perspectives. You should read both to remain objective.

As long as you google within English-speaking sites you will get English-speaking perspective. And most of Russian press is often not translated. It's the same for the Arab world, Israel, China, ...

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: dragonridr

Once again, you follow the propaganda you feel the most confident with.
Pick an actuality event, see how it is reported on Fox News and then on Russia Today, you will end up having very different perspectives. You should read both to remain objective.

As long as you google within English-speaking sites you will get English-speaking perspective. And most of Russian press is often not translated. It's the same for the Arab world, Israel, China, ...

Same can be said for you follow the propaganda your most comfortable with. Your funny you are arguing against political scientists even Russian ones. Little did they know you understand governments better then they do. Do they pay you consulting fees just curious. Has Yevgenia Albats have you on her speed dial on case she needs to consult you.

a reply to: dragonridr

I never made any such claims.
People often make mention of an 'American mind' and on the opposite, a 'Russian soul'; I guess you need both to keep the spirit alive.
Did you notice it's a little zen symbol representing this particular section of the forum ?

Well thanks for your in depth explanation of Fascism,
in todays world China seems yo have perfected the model,
Russia and the USA are not far behind..! Whereas the US
have a much more developed, subtile type of Fascism, power of indoctrination, land of the free etc..

a reply to: ketsuko

Obamacare is an archetype for a fascist mechanism to control the individual under the state.

Excellent post, DJW001. As a History Major, with a Minor in Political Science and Economics, this hits me where my interests lie. It's also very accurate and and I can't wait for your future posts.

/TOA

a reply to: The Old American

Obamacare is an archetype for a fascist mechanism to control the individual under the state.

Thank you for your kind words, but placing requirements on citizens is not sufficient to label a government "fascist." The government of the United States is subject to continual turnover and is ultimately subject to the will of its citizens. The Affordable Care Act is an attempt by the State to get citizens to be responsible for their own well being. Its goals are laudable, but it is not a very good law.

a reply to: theultimatebelgianjoke

Oligarchy is a political regime.
Putinism is a rethorical statement.

True; it does emphasize that Russia is governed under the Fuehrer Principle, however, and identifies who is at the center of the personality cult.

a reply to: DJW001

Russia would be governed by the Fuhrer principle if Putin had amended the Russian constitution to make room for his personal ambitions. Instead, he found a workaround and put Medvedev in place for the time of a mandate so that he can reset the counters and re-apply for presidency. Hypocrite but legal.

What's going on in Burundi with the President Nkurunziza applying for a third presidency despite constitutional interdiction is a better example of presidential abuse imo.

a reply to: theultimatebelgianjoke

Russia would be governed by the Fuhrer principle if Putin had amended the Russian constitution to make room for his personal ambitions. Instead, he found a workaround and put Medvedev in place for the time of a mandate so that he can reset the counters and re-apply for presidency. Hypocrite but legal.

Give him time.

What's going on in Burundi with the President Nkurunziza applying for a third presidency despite constitutional interdiction is a better example of presidential abuse imo.

You mean a more blatant example.

a reply to: DJW001

The main responsible for this situation are ... the Russians themselves.
This wouldn't have been possible if Putin was not supported by the majority of the Russian population.
You may disagree with Putin or consider him as a despot but the guys voting at Russian election don't seem to share your point of view. In the same way - sorry to disappoint you - the rest of the world is likely to consider 'What a bunch of idiots !' each time the Americans elect a republican president.

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: DJW001

The main responsible for this situation are ... the Russians themselves.
This wouldn't have been possible if Putin was not supported by the majority of the Russian population.
You may disagree with Putin or consider him as a despot but the guys voting at Russian election don't seem to share your point of view. In the same way - sorry to disappoint you - the rest of the world is likely to consider 'What a bunch of idiots !' each time the Americans elect a republican president.

Again managed democracy Putin didn't win the election he cheated. How quickly people forget the protests at the last election. Or the fraud that was involved. Putin makes sure he can't lose by killing the compitition or stuffing ballots. Either way there was only one choice and will be in the next as well.

a reply to: dragonridr

Putin got 63% of the votes, that represents over 46 millions Russians.
There were never more than 20000 protesters at each of the post-electoral gatherings.
During pro-Putin rallies, there were more than 100000 peoples.
Unlike what happened in Ukraine, police never shot any protester, there were only administrative arrests.

Russia is not a model of democracy but your claims are fallacious.

originally posted by: theultimatebelgianjoke
a reply to: dragonridr

Putin got 63% of the votes, that represents over 46 millions Russians.
There were never more than 20000 protesters at each of the post-electoral gatherings.
During pro-Putin rallies, there were more than 100000 peoples.
Unlike what happened in Ukraine, police never shot any protester, there were only administrative arrests.

Russia is not a model of democracy but your claims are fallacious.

Might want to read this from the observers.
www.osce.org...


Then here's some more they used readable pens for voting and of course ballot stuffing and what's called carousel voting. They took bus loads of people from one polling place to another.

observers.france24.com...

There was never any chance for anyone oTher than Putin to win. This is why it's a managed democracy I spoke of. The rights of the Russian people don't exist. Look since Putin has been in office he removed the rights of Russians to a speedy trial he can hold them as long as he wants. He has the right to take any business he chooses. All I'm going to say is you really don't understand how a democracy works. If they outcome of the election is pre decided through fake ballots eras able ink etc this isn't democracy.

You do realize Putin had the Constitution of Russia changed so he could run again don't you? By the time Putin is done he will have been president for a total of 20 yrs. No democracy in the world can that happen that only happens with dictators.
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