logoalt Hacker News

misja111today at 12:33 PM3 repliesview on HN

I really don't like the inflationary use of the term Fascism. There are multiple definitions of fascism, but this one captures many of them:

> Fascism is characterized by support for a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived interest of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy

In those silicon valley movements mentioned, I see no support per se for a dictatorial leader, or for strong regimentation of society (quite the opposite!), to name just a few.

I find it reasonable to disagree with a lot of those movements, but please use proper arguments. To simply call everything you don't like fascism doesn't help the cause at all.


Replies

WickyNilliamstoday at 1:09 PM

Are you familiar with Curtis Yarvin, and his influence with Thiel, JD Vance etc? He absolutely advocates for monarchy and dismantling democracy. He's also, if we are to judge his extensive writing, very much a racist

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/inside-the-new-right...

show 1 reply
frm88today at 1:51 PM

Have you read Umberto Eco's essay on Ur-fascism per chance? The dictator bit comes later, if it comes at all. Eco made 14 points that let you detect fascism - the higher the score, the higher the chance of a fascist regime being established.

It makes for a stunning read https://www.openculture.com/2024/11/umberto-ecos-list-of-the.... Brett Deveraux (historian) once tried to match US society to those 14 points with the expected result: the US matches all 14. He wrote on his blog about it here: https://acoup.blog/2024/10/25/new-acquisitions-1933-and-the-...

show 1 reply
pjc50today at 12:39 PM

> I see no support per se for a dictatorial leader, or for strong regimentation of society

Everyone who donated to the Trump inauguration knew what they were buying into, and it has definitely delivered troops-on-the-streets fascism.