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The Anatomy of Modern Fascism
Despair, Cults, and Strategic Manipulation
Fascism and totalitarianism don’t emerge in a vacuum. They are born from genuine despair, rooted deeply in the deterioration of living conditions. When people’s basic needs go unmet, they become fertile ground for demagogues who offer magical solutions cloaked in cultish rhetoric. Without tangible efforts to improve material conditions, this cycle of suffering and anger will continue. Anger finds a voice, and movements turn into belief systems divorced from reality.
We see this in the steadfast loyalty of Trump’s followers, who rally behind him despite his bellicose policies that fail to improve their lives — or align with his calls for peace. What draws them isn’t his achievements but his emotional resonance with their despair. This same emotional manipulation is fueling the global rise of the ultra-right, powered by a network of public figures — including Elon Musk, who has recently inserted himself into overt political discourse.
The Rise of Faux-Populism
Across the globe, ultra-right parties push for exorbitant military spending — 5% of GDP, for instance — while scapegoating migrants and the poor for economic and social woes. This narrative acts as a smokescreen, hiding the enrichment of oligarchic elites who exploit weakened international norms in…
