Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Analytically, there are both similarities and differences with fascists, their descendants, and other authoritarians around the world. You could mention Latin American caudillos while you're at it. (Pinochet had the libertarians backing him, something that points to how American libertarians behave.) Just applying the label "fascist" doesn't accomplish much of anything. Having a richer conversation about what Trump and other Republicans are doing is a great idea. I don't think you need the label to do that.
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It's not just a label but an analytical construct, and in particular gives some insight into potential strategies he may have. If you accept the idea that he is behaving in a way that makes it look like he wants to consolidate power and eliminate as thoroughly as possible all opposition, watching how others have done it is useful. He's going to use strategies more like Mussolini or, yes, some of the caudillos, but not so much like Mao or Stalin.
We should always be careful to avoid reifying constructs, but it is very hard to analyze any situation without using constructs of some sort.
