Thread by @mariliacout

1 / Proto-fascism in the USA and elsewhere - I have been trying to cross my t's and dot my i's concerning some concepts. A few days ago I did that with "socialism", which was easier since the task on hand was to clarify basic concepts.

immigrationimpact.com/2019/04/04/ice…

2 / While individual movements may be openly fascist, and they are, when can we say a society has transitioned from a democratic form of governance to an authoritarian or totalitarian one?

3 / As a friend of strict method and conceptual mastery, I am partial to reading the classics. Here you can download "the origins of totalitarianism" by Hannah Arendt: boletindeestetica.com.ar/wp-content/upl…

4 / Usually, the end of a democracy is characterized by the final breakdown of foundational institutions and procedures such as the balance of powers. On of the milestones of this downfall is the final shutdown of Congress.

5 / However, when authoritarian (as in populist or sadopopulist governments) or totalitarian (dictatorships) governments take over, for years there have been institutional signs of proto-fascism.

6 / ICE's actions represent nationalist radicalism and "redemptive violence". They are also operating either outside the rule-of-law (like the Central American asylum seekers attack) or borderline illegal.
theweek.com/articles/57409…

7 / Overturning illegal government action is hard, time-consuming and allows those proto-fascists foci in society to progress in their authoritarian evolution. This is what is happening in the USA, Brazil and other countries.

8 / Are they fascist governments? No. Do they have fascist (meaning ideologically embracing fascism) individuals in executive office? Yes. Is there proto-fascist government activities in isolated areas of intervention? Yes. Is there popular support for all that? Yes.

9 / These are the signs of danger: the serpent's egg inside a democratic society.

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