The 12 warning signs of fascism according to Umberto Eco

This philosopher proposed a series of symptoms that warn of the emergence of this ideology.

Politics has always been an integrated element in human life, both in what affects us collectively and in what has to do with our lives.Both in what affects us collectively and in what has to do with our individuality. However, some social phenomena leave more of an imprint than others, and in some cases, for the worse.

Over the last few decades, numerous social psychologists, sociologists and thinkers have devoted themselves to looking back in order to recognize what, historically, have been the first symptoms of the appearance (or reappearance) of exclusionary ideological movements based on the criminalization of minorities.

Technically, fascism is a political movement and an ideology associated with it that are based on the advocacy of a policy based on the "essential" identity of the population, the use of violence to repress political opposition, and the use of a state-directed and the use of a state-directed economy that, in turn, favors big business due to its corporatism.

At first the term fascism was used to refer to the political drift driven by Benito the political drift promoted by Benito Mussolini in the first half of the 20th century.but it can also refer to other recent political proposals similar to the original one. In particular, the resurgence of political parties using openly xenophobic discourses has made comparisons with the old regime of the Italian leader frequent.

In this sense, looking at the warning signs of fascism devised by Umberto Eco can be useful to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Signs of a resurgence of this ideology

For the writer, the symptoms that fascism is gaining ground in state or regional politics are the following.

1. Use of fear of what is different

The stigmatization of minorities who do not exactly fit the archetype of the "average citizen" or who live through or who live through different forms of cultural expression is frequent in fascist regimes. This makes it possible to reinforce the idea of national identity, which can serve to vindicate any political objective.

2. Control and repression of sexuality

The total rejection of criticism allows to make and unmake any kind of initiatives without having to give explanations or surrender to them. without having to give explanations or be accountable to anyone..

4. Valuation of force and action over intellect.

Mistrust of the intellectual critical thinking in the country is mortally wounded. Reason is seen as a way of covering up interests based on reason and, consequently, as a waste of time.

5. Constant appeal to a threat that does not go away.

To be all the time appealing to an eternal threat makes it possible to introduce the state of exception.The cases of state terrorism are a clear example of this. The cases of state terrorism are a clear example of this.

6. Use of speeches with simple vocabulary and based on clichés.

The use of words with very broad meanings makes it possible to produce speeches that, although they seem very clear, are not in touch with reality.. Normally the only message that is given has to do with the most striking ideas, such as who is to blame for something or the attitude that the party is going to have in front of an event, but it is not very concrete.

7. Ridicule of the innovative or novelty

Tverything that departs from the traditional way of seeing the world is rejected and ridiculed as if it were a distraction, a distraction, a distraction, a distraction, a distraction, a distraction, a distraction. as if it were a distraction, a lie or a banal pastime.

8. Emphasis on the importance of tradition and national identity

Constantly appealing to a people's identity and tradition is an easy way to claim to be the "natural" mirror of that collective's voice. There is no need to propose policies that benefit the majority.It is not necessary to propose policies that benefit the majority, but simply to use symbols, icons and customs as propaganda pieces.

9. Constant appeal to a dissatisfied social class.

This is not a characteristic that in itself defines fascism, since it is done from many political tendencies. However, fascism claims to be the only voice of that part of the population, as if it did not exist in it.as if plurality did not exist within it.

10. Use of a charismatic leader representing the people

The leader is the reflection of the people, and as such speaks in their language and tries to express the same concerns as the stereotype of the part of the population to which he appeals. His personal decisions and his tastes and preferences are taken as a public matter, since he is the embodiment of the popular will.as it is the embodiment of the will of the people.

11. Constant search for external culprits

Blaming everything on those who are outside the propaganda system and cannot defend themselves makes it possible to to shift attention from the failures of the party or, if they are or, if they are revealed, they are shown as mistakes made in the fight against a greater evil.

12. Constant appeal to the will of the people

An attempt is made to appropriate popular demands by making them pass into the institutional sphere, where they are and there they are dissolved and confused with the political objectives of the leaders of the fascist movement.