Poole: Can fascism happen in the US?

In 1935, Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here” introduced a standard refrain in American history: could fascism occur in the United States? The book is a semi-satirical novel that explores the concept of fascism in America during its rise in Europe.

Fascism is characterized by strong nationalism, extreme authoritarianism, corporatism, militarization and hostility towards liberalism and Marxism.

The term originates from the 19^th century, with its ideologies appearing in different written works from Germany, Austria, France and Italy. In 1921, the National Fascist Party was founded by Benito Mussolini, the soon-to-be World War II dictator of Italy.

Mussolini’s right-wing party advocated nationalism in Italy and launched a platform of intimidation and terrorism against its opponents. By 1936, Mussolini joined Adolf Hitler, who shaped his Nazi Germany revolution after the rise of Mussolini.

Fascism continues to captivate both historians and political scientists because the ideology did not die along with the fascist states of World War II. Today, there are self-proclaimed fascists in America, such as those who attended the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In 1939, roughly 22,000 American fascists held a pro-German and pro-Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Speakers at the rally called for a “white, gentile-ruled USA” and denounced the press for being controlled by Jews.

They also gave the Nazi salute during the national anthem and pledged allegiance to the American flag. Nearly 1,700 police officers had to guard the rally participants to make sure counter-protesters wouldn’t clash.

After the 2016 election, the original question, “can it happen here?” started to be asked again – according to Time, sales of the 1935 novel started to go up again, sparking a conversation that many didn’t see coming.

While there’s still a debate on what would allow fascism to rise in the United States and what makes certain countries at risk, the U.S. War Department saw the threat by domestic fascism to American democracy.

Successful fascist movements have involved alliances between the divested and powerful businesses to place blame for social distress onto victimized scapegoats and to eliminate more radical options. In the 1920-30s in Germany and Italy, the targets of the fascists were socialists, communists and labor unionists.

Today, there are similar tendencies through verbal attacks on Muslims, immigrants, inner-city minorities and through right-wing populism being used by rich capitalists and their supporters to get rid of regulations on industries and cut down on the wealthy’s taxes.

Fascist and neo-fascist movements are on the rise as populist dissatisfaction embraces militant nationalism and blames immigrants, homosexuals and ethnic/religious minorities for unwanted cultural change, income inequality and their sense of displacement.

Even though hatred and bigotry are scary enough by themselves, there is a bigger concern that these movements could launch anti-democratic forces into power just like they did in Germany and Italy.

In the U.S., the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally showcased the ugliness of the alt-right and neo-Nazi groups as the marchers chanted “white lives matter.”

While President Trump eventually denounced the violence in Charlottesville, former leader of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) David Duke said that Trump’s election inspired the rally and that his election gave people like him the determination to “get our country back” according to the Huffington Post.

Trump did not bring fascism into the United States, but it’s important to remember that fascism is not easy to identify, nor is it easy to destroy once it’s in power.