If Marcus Tullius Cicero  listened to what is happening in India , the quote would be like this.  “With An enemy at hearts you can create and let others carry the flags of hatred openly. The traitors disguised as leaders roam the forte freely, their sly whispers staining the history, and pumping the toxic venom of hatred through all the alleys, seeking the ultimate silence of the nation”.A nation can survive fascists , and even the Ambaanis . It cannot survive without an all out fight.

 

Diagnostic criteria for fascism

Presence of any of the following should raise suspicion of this condition.  Though many of the symptoms are not specific to this diagnosis, caution is advised, as missing this diagnosis can have fatal consequences. High political suspicion and intense scrutiny of activities and ideas are often required to confirm diagnosis. Exploration of diagnostic possibility itself can result in intense retaliation, hence necessary safety precautions are advised.

Symptom list (reference: Lawrence Britt )

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights – Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause – The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military – Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Controlled Mass Media – Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

6. Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

7. Religion and Government are Intertwined – Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.

8. Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

9. Corporate Power is Protected – The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Rampant Sexism – The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections – Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

 

For a ‘possible’ diagnosis: A minimum of 3 criteria out of the first 6 are essential to make a possible diagnosis.

For a ‘conclusive’ diagnosis: If all first 6 criteria are met, for a  reasonable period of  time, say for example six months, a conclusive diagnosis can be made.

Exclusion criteria: Last six criteria alone in any combination would not satisfy a possible diagnosis.

Precaution: In cases where religious or racial beliefs are involved, one’s own faiths and beliefs can limit the ability to objectively assess this condition.

Do we score enough?

Please check your experience and observations against these criteria and make up your mind.

Manoj Therayil