Totalitarianism: Fascist governments sought absolute control over all aspects of society. They established authoritarian regimes where the state’s power was centralized, often under a single leader or a small elite.
Censorship and Propaganda: Fascist governments tightly controlled media and suppressed dissenting voices. They used propaganda to shape public opinion, promote their ideology, and demonize opponents.
Political Repression: Fascist regimes eliminated opposition parties and suppressed political dissent through tactics such as arrests, imprisonment, and extrajudicial violence.
Secret Police: Secret police organizations, like the Gestapo in Nazi Germany, were used to monitor and eliminate perceived threats to the regime.
Cult of Personality: Fascist leaders were often portrayed as infallible and heroic figures, creating a cult of personality that reinforced their authority.
Nationalism and Militarism:
Extreme Nationalism: Fascist governments promoted an extreme form of nationalism, emphasizing the supremacy of their own nation and race.
Expansionist Policies: Fascist regimes often pursued aggressive expansionist foreign policies, seeking to reclaim territories they believed were rightfully theirs or to establish dominance in their regions.
Military Buildup: Fascist governments heavily invested in their militaries, using them not only for national defense but also as tools of expansion and intimidation.
Military Conscription: Many fascist states imposed mandatory military service on their citizens, further strengthening their militaristic agendas.
Racial and Social Policies:
Racial Supremacy: Fascist governments espoused racial hierarchies, believing in the superiority of their own race while persecuting and discriminating against others, particularly Jews, Romani people, and other minority groups.
Eugenics and Sterilization: Some fascist regimes implemented eugenics programs to control the genetic makeup of their populations, often targeting individuals deemed unfit or undesirable.
Anti-Semitism: Particularly evident in Nazi Germany, anti-Semitic policies included the systematic persecution, discrimination, and eventual genocide of Jews during the Holocaust.
Gender Roles and Family: Fascist governments enforced traditional gender roles and promoted pro-natalist policies to increase the birthrate among their “desired” population groups.
Suppression of Cultural Diversity: Fascist regimes sought to homogenize their societies, suppressing regional and cultural diversity in favor of a unified, national identity.
