How to spot a fascist the Umberto Eco way
Umberto Eco wrote an essay on how to spot a fascist – a skill of which he had personal experience as a boy in the 1940s (Letters, 21 February). Eco lists 14 criteria, none of them to do with fancy dress or raised-arm salutes. Some of them are quite familiar: the 'cult of tradition' and the belief that the world was better at some unspecified earlier time; a racist 'fear of difference'; an obsession with conspiracies, leading to xenophobia; a scorn for the weak; the use of Orwellian newspeak to hinder complex and critical reasoning; and a cult of machismo, involving contempt for women and a condemnation of nonconformist sexual habits.
Other characteristics follow: the belief that all was known in an ideal past leads to a rejection of modernism; a conviction that learning cannot advance; and a suspicion of culture, science and intellect. Fascist rule appeals to frustrated people who are humiliated by wealth and power. Such people form a monolithic entity that is not consulted, but whose will is intuited by fascists. Donald Trump qualifies on all counts, with one exception, since he is a coward: the 'cult of death'.Philip SteadmanLondon
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Unionists just don't view the status quo the same way we do
To those that have voted for Labour in Scotland and have never switched to the SNP, as well as Tory, Reform UK and LibDem voters, they don't see England, even politically, as a foreign country. Generally they don't have the burning antipathy that most of us lot have about being governed, and abused, by a much larger neighbouring country. In other words, as we would see it, they just don't bloody get it! READ MORE: SNP's losing strategy for by-election took the electorate for fools Clearly, if there was a totally fair press and media we would definitely get many more of them on board. However, the day we get a totally fair press and media in Scotland and the UK in respect of Scottish independence is the day pigs will be flying past my window and gieing me a knowing wink! Apart from the press, though, there are other factors. Somebody in the know clearly told Nigel Farage not to visit Hamilton, but to head for Larkhall, which let's just say is a place where there is an abundance of fans of Rangers Football Club. I guess we have to admit this was pretty clever as, generally, Rangers fans are not exactly associated with Scottish independence (I reckon that is one of the biggest euphemisms I've used in my life!) OK, so historically, that side of Scottish society has been overwhelmingly in favour of the Union and that can't be ignored. There is another aspect though. Many of us Scots, since time immemorial, have gone doon tae England tae make oor way in the world, for what we think is a better standard of living, and in many cases probably is. READ MORE: A large gulf has now developed between Yessers and the SNP Many don't come back, have bairns who end up having English accents and many of whom probably feel English, but leave behind family in Scotland that are proud as punch that their wee Johnny or Jeannie made good and made the family proud. Something tells me these ties to England won't dispose said family left back in Scotland to independence any time soon! Ye cannae upset the grandbairns! I've only touched on the factors that mean so many folk in oor great country are just totally addicted to being lorded over by the English state (although they don't see it that way, and that is the point!) So how can this mindset be changed? That's above my pay grade I'm afraid! Personally, I'm hauding oot fur oor young folk, far mair disposed tae independence, tae overwhelm Scottish public opinion at some point in the future, and make it happen. I'm almost 65 years old now, so reckon I probably won't witness this in my lifetime. But, hey, when it does, I'll be looking doon fae heaven (hopefully – fingers crossed!) and daeing the biggest fist pump in my life (well, maybe death!). Ivor Telfer Dalgety Bay, Fife SUSAN Forde's timely reminder of the sacrifice made by the 51st to help the Dunkirk evacuation proceed (Letters, June 12) should also remind all Scots (assuming they are the least bit interested) that between 1746 and 1940 the British establishment still held to the view attributed to James Wolfe. Post-Culloden he suggested that Highlanders would make a valuable contribution to British arms, yet if they were sacrificed it would be 'no great mischief'. No surprise, then, that the 51st were ordered to guard the retreat. Jim Butchart via email
Powys County Times
17 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Kendall to add protections to welfare Bill amid backlash to cuts
The Work and Pensions Secretary will add 'non-negotiable' protections to the Welfare Reform Bill, amid a backlash against planned cuts to benefits. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. The proposals include tightening of the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England, and cutting the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC). Dozens of Labour MPs last month urged the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the Guardian there will be extra protections added to the Bill when it is published next week. She said: 'When we set out our reforms we promised to protect those most in need, particularly those who can never work. 'I know from my 15 years as a constituency MP how important this is. It is something I take seriously and will never compromise on. 'That is why we are putting additional protections on the face of the Bill to support the most vulnerable and help people affected by the changes. 'These protections will be written into law, a clear sign they are non-negotiable.' A Government impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, across England, Scotland and Wales, could fall into relative poverty after housing costs as a result of the changes.
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Kendall to add protections to welfare Bill amid backlash to cuts
The proposals include tightening of the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England, and cutting the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC). Dozens of Labour MPs last month urged the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the Guardian there will be extra protections added to the Bill when it is published next week. She said: 'When we set out our reforms we promised to protect those most in need, particularly those who can never work. 'I know from my 15 years as a constituency MP how important this is. It is something I take seriously and will never compromise on. 'That is why we are putting additional protections on the face of the Bill to support the most vulnerable and help people affected by the changes. 'These protections will be written into law, a clear sign they are non-negotiable.' A Government impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, across England, Scotland and Wales, could fall into relative poverty after housing costs as a result of the changes.
