How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them

by Jason F. Stanley

Fascist movements share with social Darwinism the idea that life is a competition for power, according to which the division of society’s resources should be left up to pure free market competition.

Hitler denounces democracy as incompatible with individuality, since it does not allow individual citizens to rise above others in competitive struggle.

The basis of a commitment to a generous universal welfare system is an expression of the belief in the fundamental value of each citizen.

Fascist politics preys on the human frailty that makes our own suffering seem bearable if we know that those we look down upon are being made to suffer more.