Where does fascism belong on the political spectrum?

Is it a right or a left thing?

Is Fascism a left or right thing?

Fascism.

Now that’s a word that gets attention. It evokes strong emotions. It causes people to “show their teeth.” It’s not a word used in polite conversation.

Yet, I hear the term tossed around a lot these days, as if a hot potato, as if a hand grenade with the pin pulled. Nobody wants to touch it, might explode. Way too dangerous, way too hot. But, somebody owns that potato, somebody owns that hand grenade. It fits very nicely on the political spectrum, but where?

Some people say ‘fascism is part and parcel with the far right.’ Others say, ‘No, fascism belongs to the far left.’

Who’s right?

Let’s begin our discovery with a working definition.

What is fascism anyway?

According to Merriam-Webster fascism is defined as follows:

A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.