Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto and Pinochet Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common./1 #Fascism

He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism.
The 14 characteristics are: /2 #Fascism #14CharacteristicsOfFascism

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. /3

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture /4

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. /5

Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. /6

Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. /7

Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. /8

Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. /9

Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders /10 #Fascism

Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. /11 #14CharacteristicsOfFascism

Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed . /12 #14CharacteristicsOfFascism

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote & tolerate open hostility to higher education & academia.It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked & not funded
/13

Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. /14 #14CharacteristicsOfFascism

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. /15 #Fascism

Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries /16

...and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections./17 #14CharacteristicsOfFascism