“Ur-Fascism” 1
Der Spiegel points out 20th Century fascism manifested itself in many different ways. Fascism in Mussolini’s Italy was different from fascism in Hitler’s Germany was different from fascism in Franco’s Spain and so on. They point to the work of Umberto Eco, who grew up in Mussolini’s Italy, who sought to find commonalities among various fascist regimes and posited a theory of “Ur-Fascism,” the common threads that allowed all of them to be referred to as “fascist.”
They then apply Eco’s theory to Donald Trump’s beliefs and actions. The result is fascinating. Here’s a bit:
Point six states: “Ur-Fascism derives from individual or social frustration. That was why one of the most typical features of historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.” It would be impossible to more aptly describe Trump’s appeal to his voters.
This is a must-read.
November 28, 2016 at 3:12 pm
“the superiority of the leader’s instincts over abstract and universal reason. The last point applies to Trump and his supporters to a T.”
Not from where I sit. Quite a few interviews with people who expressed no real faith in the “superiority of the leader’s instincts” but who were best characterized by their rage against the establishment or a loathing of Clinton that went beyond what was captured by polls on “dislike” and “trustworthiness.”
Quote from the NYT today:
“God has used unjust people to do his will,” Mr. Copley said, explaining his vote.
A man in West Virginia, which HRC lost 70 – 30, the same margin as in the county I grew up in 50 years ago.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/donald-trump-coal-country.html