2. Rejection of Modernism and Enlightenment Values
Fascism views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as moral and cultural decline. While fascist regimes may embrace industrial technology and scientific achievements as proof of their vitality, they reject the philosophical foundations of modernity, particularly critical reasoning and liberal values.

3. Cult of Action for Action's Sake Action is valued for its own sake and should be taken without intellectual reflection or analysis. This principle connects directly to anti-intellectualism and often manifests in attacks on modern culture, universities, and scientific institutions that encourage critical thinking.

4. Disagreement Equals Treason Fascism treats intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to decisive action and potential threats to unity. Dissent is not merely opposed but characterized as betrayal, disloyalty, or collaboration with enemies, creating an environment where questioning authority becomes dangerous.

5. Fear and Exploitation of Difference Fascist movements systematically exploit and exacerbate fear of those perceived as different. The first appeal of fascism is typically directed against "intruders"—foreigners, immigrants, or minority groups—making racism a definitional component of fascist movements.

6. Appeal to Social Frustration One of the most consistent features of historical fascism was its appeal to a frustrated middle class experiencing economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation. Fascism channels this frustration by blaming specific scapegoats and promising restoration of status and order.

7. Nationalism Based on Birth To people deprived of clear social identity, fascism offers the simple privilege of being born in the same country as their sole meaningful distinction. This origin-based nationalism provides a sense of belonging and superiority without requiring individual achievement or merit.

8. Obsession with Conspiracy and Plots At the root of fascist psychology lies an obsession with conspiracies, often international in scope. Followers must feel perpetually besieged by enemies both external and internal, with minority groups frequently portrayed as part of vast conspiratorial networks.

9. The Enemy as Both Strong and Weak Through continuous rhetorical shifting, enemies are portrayed simultaneously as existential threats requiring urgent action and as inferior beings easily defeated. This contradiction serves to mobilize followers through fear while assuring them of inevitable victory.

10. Life Lived for Struggle For fascism, there is no struggle for survival; rather, life exists for the sake of permanent struggle itself. Pacifism is viewed as collaboration with the enemy, and perpetual conflict becomes the natural and desirable state of society.

11. Popular Elitism and Contempt for the Weak Fascism combines contempt for weakness with a form of popular elitism where every member of the in-group is considered superior to outsiders by virtue of belonging. This creates a hierarchical society where leaders despise their followers while demanding absolute loyalty.

12. Cult of Heroism and Death In fascism, everyone is expected to be a hero, not just exceptional individuals. This heroism is closely linked with a cult of death where heroic sacrifice is glorified, and leaders show impatience for death—frequently by sending others to die.

13. Machismo and Sexual Politics Fascism transfers the cult of permanent war and heroism into the sexual sphere, resulting in both contempt for women and intolerance of non-traditional sexual practices. This includes condemnation of homosexuality and an emphasis on hyper-masculine warrior values.

14. Selective Populism The people are conceived as a monolithic entity with a unified will, distinct from and superior to any individual perspective. Since true unanimity is impossible, the leader positions himself as the sole authentic interpreter of this popular will, using this claim to delegitimize democratic institutions.

15. Impoverished Political Language (Newspeak) Fascist regimes deliberately employ impoverished vocabulary and simplified syntax to limit the instruments available for complex and critical reasoning. This degradation of language restricts citizens' ability to think critically about policies and governmental actions.

16. Alliance with Traditional Conservative Elites Fascist movements come to power through collaboration with traditional conservative elites—military officers, industrialists, large landowners, and clergy—who open the gates to power in exchange for protection from the political left. Fascists cannot seize power by force alone; they require this alliance with existing power structures.

17. Obsessive Preoccupation with Decline and Humiliation Fascist ideology centers on obsessive concern with community decline, national humiliation, or collective victimhood. Fascist movements promise to reverse historical defeats and restore lost greatness through decisive action and national mobilization.

18. Compensatory Cults of Unity, Energy, and Purity To overcome feelings of decline and humiliation, fascism promotes cults of national or racial unity, collective energy and action, and ideological or racial purity. These compensatory mechanisms promise national regeneration and rebirth through exclusion and mobilization.

19. Mass-Based Movement of Nationalist Militants Fascism relies on mobilizing a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants who create the appearance and reality of popular support. These movements use uniforms, symbols, rituals, and mass demonstrations to project power and create emotional bonds among followers.

20. Abandonment of Democratic Liberties Once in power, fascist regimes systematically abandon democratic liberties and constitutional protections. Elections become theater, parliaments lose meaningful power, press freedom disappears, and the judiciary becomes subordinate to executive authority.

21. Redemptive Violence Without Ethical Restraints Fascist regimes pursue their goals through violence portrayed as redemptive and purifying, operating without ethical or legal restraints. Violence is not merely a tool but becomes an end in itself, used for both internal cleansing and external expansion.

22. Use of Political Violence as Systematic Tool From their earliest stages, fascist movements employ violence as a deliberate political instrument. Uniformed paramilitary squads attack perceived enemies—communists, socialists, labor organizers, immigrants, and minorities—to demonstrate power, intimidate opponents, and create crises justifying authoritarian responses.

23. Cult of the Leader Fascist movements center on worship of a charismatic leader who embodies the national will and whose authority is absolute and unquestionable. The leader's personal judgment supersedes law, institutional constraints, and rational deliberation.

24. Goals of Internal Cleansing and External Expansion Fascist regimes pursue twin objectives: internal purification through elimination or subjugation of groups deemed impure or disloyal, and external expansion to restore national greatness. Both goals are pursued through organized violence unconstrained by conventional morality or international law.