Three Definitions of Fascism
All political terms acquire definitions that are pretty much the direct opposite of their dictionary meanings. ‘Fascism’ has three widely used meanings.
1: A Variety of State–Capitalism
In its original sense, the term ‘fascism’ described an economic system in which strong and largely unaccountable nation state institutions kept the general population under control for the benefit of the owners of entirely unaccountable capitalist institutions.
Obviously, that description fits every contemporary industrialised economy, varying only by the degree to which nation state institutions are accountable to the general population.
2: Extreme Authoritarianism
This is the everyday sense of the word, and is not incompatible with the standard definition. Anyone who is keen on enforced subservience to authority is a fascist, according to this definition.
Although Hitler and Mussolini were fond of uniforms, jackboots, marching and saluting, military costumes and militaristic activities aren’t usually considered to be an essential element of this view of fascism. The important ingredients are an extreme or established inequality of power, and a willingness to approve of such inequality.
3: Something You Don’t Like
‘Fascism’ and ‘fascist’ are very handy tools in ideological warfare. Whereas words such as ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ — good words — are often used to disguise authoritarian ideas and actions, words such as ‘fascism’ and ‘fascist’ — bad words — can be used as a simple insult against people or ideas you disapprove of, whether or not those people or ideas meet either of the definitions mentioned above.
The purpose of using the words ‘fascism’ and ‘fascist’ in this way is usually to prevent curious people investigating such ideas. Very often, this definition of ‘fascism’ is used by those who fit one or both of the first two definitions of the word, with the intention of preserving inequalities of power from which they themselves benefit.