Blackbirds, blackshirts and black hearts (is Re: Ur-Fascism)

[jbor]

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/stevens-13ways.html

I think that some of Eco's remarks go right to the heart of the recent
discussions here about propaganda and dishonesty and stirring up popular
resentment:

"For Ur-Fascism, *disagreement is treason*. Besides, disagreement is a sign
of diversity. Ur-Fascism grows up and seeks consensus by exploiting and
exacerbating the natural *fear of difference*. The first appeal of a fascist
or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus
Ur-Fascism is racist by definition. Ur-Fascism derives from individual or
social frustration. That is why one of the most typical features of the
historical fascism was the *appeal to a frustrated middle class*, a class
suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and
frightened by the pressure of lower social groups. In our time, when the old
"proletarians" are becoming petty bourgeois (and the lumpen are largely
excluded from the political scene), the fascism of tomorrow will find its
audience in this new majority."

[ ... ]

"Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the *obsession with
a plot*, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged."

[ ... ]

"The followers must feel *humiliated by the ostentatious wealth and force of
their enemies*."

[ ... ] "the followers of Ur-Fascism must also be convinced that they can
overwhelm the enemies. Thus, by a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus,
the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak."

"Ur-Fascism can only advocate a popular elitism."

[ ... ]

"Ur-Fascism is based upon a *selective populism*, a qualitative populism,
one might say. [ ... ] There is in our future a TV or Internet populism, in
which the emotional response of a selected group of citizens can be
presented and accepted as the Voice of the People.

Because of its qualitative populism, Ur-Fascism must be *against "rotten"
parliamentary governments*. Wherever a politician casts doubt on the
legitimacy of a parliament because it no longer represents the Voice of the
People, we can smell Ur-Fascism."

best

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>From: Eric Rosenbloom <ericr at sadlier.com>