From “Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies” by David P. Gushee
Jason Stanley, in his 2018 work How Facism Works, describes fascism as “ultranationalism of some variety (ethnic, religious, cultural), with the nation represented in the person of an authoritarian leader who speaks on its behalf.” Stanley helpfully distinguishes between “fascist politics” and a “fascist state.” Fascist politics is a mechanism to gain power; it may or may not succeed in metastasizing into the creation of a fascist state, as in Nazi Germany. This distinction makes it possible to name fascist political strategies or tendencies even when those wielding them have not succeeded (yet) in remaking their nation’s political system.
Stanley summarizes the characteristics of fascist politics as follows: real history is displaced by a mythic past, truth and reality are displaced by propaganda, anti-intellectualism displaces expertise, conspiracy theories and lies displace truth and history, a hierarchical vision displaces any vision of human equality, a sense of victimhood is encouraged on the part of majority populations as a response to any gains for minority groups, “law and order” politics emphasize tough policing of lawless others, sexual anxiety is stirred up related to perceived threats to patriarchy and masculinity, and members of dehumanized groups are described as lazy dependents. Fascism is, in short, characterized by myths, propaganda, hierarchy, anger, patriarchy, violence, sexual anxiety, and dehumanization.