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Laurence W. Britt outlined 14 characteristics of fascism in his 2003 essay, “Fascism, Anyone?” for
Free Inquiry magazine. Britt, described as a retired international businessperson, analyzed the fascist regimes of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Suharto, and Augusto Pinochet to identify what he called the “identifying characteristics of fascism”.
The 14 points, as outlined by Britt, are:
- Powerful and continuing nationalism: Fascist regimes often use patriotic mottos, slogans, and symbols to foster a fervent and unwavering sense of national identity.
- Disdain for the recognition of human rights: The fear of enemies and the need for security often override human rights, with people being conditioned to look the other way or even approve of abuses.
- Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause: Fascist regimes use a unifying patriotic cause against perceived threats, such as minorities, liberals, or communists, to distract the public from other problems.
- Supremacy of the military: A disproportionate amount of national resources is allocated to the military, which is often glamorized and seen as an expression of national strength.
- Rampant sexism: Fascist regimes often use sexist ideas to promote traditional gender roles and limit the rights and roles of women.
- Controlled mass media: The media is either directly or indirectly controlled by the government, which suppresses dissent and manufactures consent through censorship and propaganda.
- Obsession with national security: Fear is used as a motivational tool to rally the public behind the government, often leading to unchecked security measures.
- Religion and government are intertwined: Religious rhetoric and terminology are commonly used by government leaders to manipulate public opinion, regardless of whether the government’s actions align with religious principles.
- Corporate power is protected: Fascist governments often have mutually beneficial relationships with the business and industrial elite, who put the leaders in power and in turn receive government favoritism.
- Labor power is suppressed: Labor unions are often eliminated or severely suppressed to prevent their potential as a threat to the regime.
- Disdain for intellectuals and the arts: Fascist nations promote and tolerate open hostility toward higher education, academia, and free expression in the arts.
- Obsession with crime and punishment: The regime maintains control through the fear of crime and the promotion of harsh punishments for even minor offenses.
- Rampant cronyism and corruption: Those with close ties to the regime use their position to enrich themselves, with corruption largely unchecked due to controlled oversight.
- Fraudulent elections: Elections are often manipulated to achieve desired results through control of voting machinery, intimidation, and voter disenfranchisement.
Context and reception
It is important to note that Britt’s list was not intended as a strict definition of fascism, but rather as a set of “early warning signs” based on his observations of historical regimes. The list is not universally accepted by scholars as a comprehensive or definitive framework for defining fascism.
In 2020, USA Today reported that a poster based on Britt’s article was once sold at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, though it was not an official museum text. His work continues to be discussed in political and academic contexts today.
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