• evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    8 months ago

    You can’t really get a concrete answer because there’s not a completely agreed upon definition of fascism. Some pieces are somewhat general; right-wing populism, authoritarian dictatorship, nationalism and “rebirth”, and the valorization of violence. Other parts can be considered by some, but not everyone, to be a part of fascism. There’s a reason there’s a whole wikipedia page on the definition of fascism..

    Russia definitely meets some criteria of some definitions, but they don’t necessarily meet all definitions of fascism. For example, some definitions of fascism include a complete rejection of communism and opposition to communists because that was the case for the fascists in the first half of the 20th century. Russia, however, still valorizes the strength and actions of soviet Russia, particularly in WWII. Putin’s claim for the invasion of Ukraine was that it was to “denazify” it.

    TL;DR, some people say if it doesn’t meet all the right criteria, it’s just sparkling white authoritarianism, others are fine calling it all champagne

    • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      8 months ago

      Your right. Fascism is a nationalist ideology, that makes it hard to define across nations. Fascist Italy was different from fascist Germany. It was also of its time.

      Russia isn’t in these times and places so it’s hard to pin down.

      Russia biggest victory is the defeat of fascism. This makes it a big part of their valorisation. I don’t think this makes Russia not fascist because the celebrate communism. It conflicts with their narrative to go against communism and national narrative is an important part of fascism far greater than anti-communism. The important part wasn’t the anti-communism, rather an external enemy. Russia has this wether it be NATO, LGBT or Ukraine becoming less corrupt and more democratic.

      Fascist also thought fascism was good and the future. People don’t think this any more. Fascism means evil know even fascist thinks this and don’t call themselves fascist.

      Their is a growing right wing, anti-democratic, corrupt and populists movement. They don’t have a name nor a clear ideology. They break conventions, dismiss or attack courts and subvert democracy. They exist in the West but they don’t have a strong foothold. Johnson and Trump could easily be called proto-fascist, they have been allowed free reign and their is still strong opposition. But China, Russia and Israel are full blast down this path. They don’t have a name but they will and Historians will see it as the second coming of Fascism or sparkling authoritarianism.

    • masquenox@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      8 months ago

      You can’t really get a concrete answer because there’s not a completely agreed upon definition of fascism.

      That’s because there is no such thing as a consistently identifiable “fascist ideology” - it’s all just disjointed but thoroughly weaponized right-wing pretexts and excuses specific to the country in question dialled up to eleven with no regard to logical consistency. It also doesn’t help that liberals’ attempts to “define” fascism are hamstrung by their desire to frame fascism as something “aberrant” to the classical liberal nation state, when, in fact, it most definitely isn’t “aberrant” but instead built into the classical liberal nation state’s very foundations.

      If people want to call Putin a fascist, fine - but then they have to call Erdogan from Turkey and Netenyahu from Israel fascists as well since they have basically walked the same line he did.