• Zyxil@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’m late to this, but I think you were unfairly downvoted for asking a legitimate question. The modern definition of fascism that is separate from the Italian political party comes from Umberto Eco’s essay Ur-Fascism: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/umberto-eco-ur-fascism

    His 14 points closely align with the US Christian right wing and more generally the rise of right wing authoritarianism globally.

    • nomadjoanne@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Thanks, I appreciate your response. But don’t worry. I am here to help out FOSS software, and because I believe in the Lemmy project.

      I am perfectly happy to share my honest opinions and be downvoted. That’s part of being part of a community.

    • nomadjoanne@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      At any case, to respond more precisely to what you were saying. I will read the Umberto Eco essay at some point (sorry, its long and I’m busy). Nevertheless, I feel as though a redefinition of the term clearly has a political motivation behind it. Why not simply call right wing Christians by another name? I feel the word fascist is used because of its historical connotation and because it helps people with a far-left agenda get what they want. It’s an effective strategy because conservatives end up defending themselves and trying go prove they’re not Hitler rather than talking about something a bit more substantive.

      • Zyxil@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        No worries. It’s a short read as far as essays go. Both the Nazi and Fascist parties were authorization but neither were left or right in the modern US instances. Eco’s whole point was to divest the cultural and time trappings of this brand of authoritarianism into a general definition of modern populist authoritarianism. It’s a good read.