At a glance
Fascism is an ultranationalist, authoritarian ideology that seeks national rebirth through dictatorial leadership, mass mobilization and suppression of political pluralism.
Core principles
- Nation above individual rights; leader-centered authority; militarism; anti-communism; exclusionary belonging; rejection of liberal democracy.
Origins & development
Modern fascism arose after the First World War, most prominently in Mussolini’s Italy. Fascist movements also developed elsewhere, with important national differences.
Economic outlook
Historical regimes retained substantial private property while directing business and labor toward state priorities. Corporatism, rearmament and self-sufficiency displaced independent unions and open competition.
Society & government
One-party rule, censorship and coercive policing deny democratic accountability. Gender hierarchy, persecution and colonial violence formed important parts of historical fascist practice.
Variations & related traditions
Italian fascism and Nazism share authoritarian ultranationalism, while Nazism makes racial hierarchy and antisemitism especially central. Broader definitions remain debated.
Debates & criticisms
Its rejection of equal rights and legitimization of political violence enabled dictatorship, aggressive war and persecution. Scholars debate boundaries between fascism and other authoritarian movements.