Bought this on Kindle for $4.99 and it's an amazing read. Prof Stanley is a long-time studier of authoritarianism and fascism. In this changing world, I see this book as being extraordinarily timely. I extract what to me, are the essences of his message, but the entire book is really worth reading.
The ten pillars make for a great checklist to "score" individual politicians or political parties.
“How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them”
by Jason Stanley (2018)
Jason Stanley breaks down fascist politics into
ten “pillars.” Each is a recurring tactic that, together, erode democratic institutions and normalize authoritarian power. Here’s an expanded look at each:
1. The Mythic Past - Fascist politics glorify an imagined “golden age” of national greatness.
2. Propaganda - State-aligned or sympathetic media amplify lies and disinformation until they become “truth.”
3. Anti-Intellectualism - Academics, journalists, and experts are branded as “elites” or “enemies of the people.” Universities, science, and research can be defunded or attacked for being “unpatriotic.”
4. Unreality - Conspiracy theories, alternative facts, and outright fabrications crowd out evidence-based reasoning. The leader and party position themselves as the
only source of truth.
5. Hierarchy - Society is organized into strict, unequal categories—often racial, ethnic, religious, or gender-based. The dominant group is celebrated as “true” citizens, while others are marked as lesser or alien.
6. Victimhood - The dominant group casts itself as persecuted, even when it holds power. Minorities, immigrants, or “outsiders” are portrayed as unfairly advantaged or as threats.
7. Law and Order - Crime (real or exaggerated) is used as justification for harsh policing, surveillance, and erosion of civil liberties. The state presents itself as the defender of stability, but “law and order” is applied selectively—often targeting minorities and political opponents. Emergency powers become permanent tools of repression.
8. Sexual Anxiety - Fascist movements obsess over controlling gender roles, sexuality, and reproduction. Feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive autonomy are framed as threats to national strength. “Traditional family values” become political weapons to enforce conformity.
9. The Heartland - The “real people” are imagined as living in rural, homogeneous, culturally conservative regions. Urban areas, with their diversity and progressive politics, are demonized as corrupt or unpatriotic.
10. Dismantling Public Goods & Unions - Public institutions—schools, healthcare, postal systems, unions—are hollowed out or privatized. The goal is to weaken solidarity and collective bargaining power. Citizens become more dependent on the ruling party or private oligarchs for survival.
Takeaway:
Each pillar alone may seem like “just politics,” but together they form a powerful system that normalizes authoritarianism and erodes democracy. Stanley’s framework is meant both as a diagnostic tool and a warning sign for societies sliding toward fascism.
does mean you miss out on Corwin but oh well
