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Let's see the definition of fascism, from Wikipedia > Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by

Let's see the definition of fascism, from Wikipedia > Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement, characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy. So, except for "far right", the Russian regime meets ever point.

AussieWog93 4y ago
Definitions aside, there is definitely a qualitative difference between Putin and Mussolini/Hitler.
- voltaireodactyl 4y ago
  That may be so, but I do not find this difference to be as obvious as it is to you, and would hesitate before assuming it’s self evident. For example, I see very little difference in terms of character; the variations between essentially boil down to respective levels of access to effective weaponry, geographical access to their enemies, and specific “enemy” groups.
- simonh 4y ago
  Hitler maybe, but I don't see all that much to separate Mussolini from Putin. As others have pointed out Putin doesn't have a personal political movement the same way, but that's really the only significant difference IMHO. I personally wouldn't describe it a fascism, but there's not a big difference. I can see where people who do call it fascism are coming from so I'm not inclined to quibble with them on it.
- poorlyknit 4y ago
  There sure is, however "fascism" as a concept can be seperated from its instances.
- warinukraine 4y ago
  Putin isn't even in the same league as Mussolini and Hitler, and anyone who says otherwise is either ignorant or lying. However, there's a spectrum. And Putin is definitely farther along towards authoritarian than any present day liberal democracy.
yetihehe 4y ago
Let's see the definition of "far right" > [...] far-right politics now include neo-fascism, neo-Nazism, the Third Position, the alt-right, racial supremacism, National Bolshevism (culturally only) and other ideologies or organizations that feature aspects of authoritarian, ultra-nationalist, chauvinist, xenophobic, theocratic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, and/or reactionary views." Look like Russian regime meets that point too.
- parineum 4y ago
  I think it makes a lot more sense to just categorize them as authoritarian. The rest of those qualifications certainly exist in Russia but I don't think it's to the extent where it's a characteristic of the regime. Fascism seems to be a "I know it when I see it" thing and I just don't see Putin as any more than a strong man ala Saddam Hussein. Somehow I feel like somewhat of a cult of personality is a key aspect of fascism and an much more oppressive suppression of subversive ideas, more like North Korea. In Russia, we hear about Pussy Riot rather than them dissapearing before we do.
  - yetihehe 4y ago
    > feel like somewhat of a cult of personality is a key aspect of fascism Hmm, there is definitely a cult of personality in Russia, but maybe not directly started by Putin, I think it's organic. Otherwise I fully agree with you, it's not really fascism because there is no "belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy." All those examples of "far-right politics" look very similar from my point of view, so I think it's normal for people to get confused to the detriment of discussion.
- floor2 4y ago
  On the internet, it's impossible to know who is knowingly spreading propaganda and who actually believes what they're saying, but... does anyone actually believe that's a reasonable definition of "far right"? Like, this just reads like a "far left" person wrote a long list of negative slander to throw at their opponents. I don't think anyone on the right would agree with essentially any of it. The "ultra-nationalist" I guess maybe sort of works, if hyperbolic, in that I think you would get right-wing people to agree that they would prioritize their nation over others, but I think if you asked a random right-wing person on the street "do you support ____" for anything else on your list, they'd say no. I'm solidly on the left by contemporary American standards, but I just wish we'd actually have honest discussions about what people believe and want, rather than slinging insults that our opponents are evil, vile people who intentionally want bad things because they're bad.
rvz 4y ago
So just more 'authoritarian' then.

AussieWog93 4y ago

Definitions aside, there is definitely a qualitative difference between Putin and Mussolini/Hitler.

voltaireodactyl 4y ago
That may be so, but I do not find this difference to be as obvious as it is to you, and would hesitate before assuming it’s self evident. For example, I see very little difference in terms of character; the variations between essentially boil down to respective levels of access to effective weaponry, geographical access to their enemies, and specific “enemy” groups.
simonh 4y ago
Hitler maybe, but I don't see all that much to separate Mussolini from Putin. As others have pointed out Putin doesn't have a personal political movement the same way, but that's really the only significant difference IMHO. I personally wouldn't describe it a fascism, but there's not a big difference. I can see where people who do call it fascism are coming from so I'm not inclined to quibble with them on it.
poorlyknit 4y ago
There sure is, however "fascism" as a concept can be seperated from its instances.
warinukraine 4y ago
Putin isn't even in the same league as Mussolini and Hitler, and anyone who says otherwise is either ignorant or lying. However, there's a spectrum. And Putin is definitely farther along towards authoritarian than any present day liberal democracy.

yetihehe 4y ago

Let's see the definition of "far right" > [...] far-right politics now include neo-fascism, neo-Nazism, the Third Position, the alt-right, racial supremacism, National Bolshevism (culturally only) and other ideologies or organizations that feature aspects of authoritarian, ultra-nationalist, chauvinist, xenophobic, theocratic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, and/or reactionary views." Look like Russian regime meets that point too.

parineum 4y ago
I think it makes a lot more sense to just categorize them as authoritarian. The rest of those qualifications certainly exist in Russia but I don't think it's to the extent where it's a characteristic of the regime. Fascism seems to be a "I know it when I see it" thing and I just don't see Putin as any more than a strong man ala Saddam Hussein. Somehow I feel like somewhat of a cult of personality is a key aspect of fascism and an much more oppressive suppression of subversive ideas, more like North Korea. In Russia, we hear about Pussy Riot rather than them dissapearing before we do.
- yetihehe 4y ago
  > feel like somewhat of a cult of personality is a key aspect of fascism Hmm, there is definitely a cult of personality in Russia, but maybe not directly started by Putin, I think it's organic. Otherwise I fully agree with you, it's not really fascism because there is no "belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy." All those examples of "far-right politics" look very similar from my point of view, so I think it's normal for people to get confused to the detriment of discussion.
floor2 4y ago
On the internet, it's impossible to know who is knowingly spreading propaganda and who actually believes what they're saying, but... does anyone actually believe that's a reasonable definition of "far right"? Like, this just reads like a "far left" person wrote a long list of negative slander to throw at their opponents. I don't think anyone on the right would agree with essentially any of it. The "ultra-nationalist" I guess maybe sort of works, if hyperbolic, in that I think you would get right-wing people to agree that they would prioritize their nation over others, but I think if you asked a random right-wing person on the street "do you support ____" for anything else on your list, they'd say no. I'm solidly on the left by contemporary American standards, but I just wish we'd actually have honest discussions about what people believe and want, rather than slinging insults that our opponents are evil, vile people who intentionally want bad things because they're bad.

rvz 4y ago

So just more 'authoritarian' then.