by Albert C. U.S.A
Fascism is a political system of fear and the failure of democracy. Fascism uses ultra-nationalism, the cult of the authoritarian leader, the glorification of violence, and hatred of liberty. So why are large segments of a democratic population drawn to an anti-democratic ideology? By examining the psychological and social appeal of fascism and analyzing the core beliefs of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement against fascist characteristics, it is an awful truth that our MAGA movement is American fascism.
Why We Are Drawn to the Authoritarian State: Our attraction to fascism is about finding certainty and belonging. The sociologist Erich Fromm, writing after World War II, described this as an “escape from freedom.” When we feel powerless, isolated, and anxious due to rapid economic upheaval, cultural shifts, or technological disruption, fascism offers us relief by substituting personal freedom with collective obedience. This psychological dynamic gives us three core promises:
Certainty and Simplicity: Fascism replaces complicated political and economic debates with simple narratives. Societal problems are attributed to an internal enemy (the “traitorous elite”) or an external enemy (immigrants, globalists). This scapegoating gives us immediate psychological relief and gives us a target for our resentment.
Victimhood and Revenge: Fascism frames the majority group as the true victims of national decline. The leader promises to restore a mythic, idealized past—a promise that validates anger and status. We transfer our personal failures onto the political system and our designated enemy. We find solace and self-worth in a nationalist identity.
Action and Violence: Fascism glorifies visceral action over rational discussion. It appeals to our contempt for intellectualism, experts, and the complexities of democratic processes. The paramilitary aesthetic and rhetoric of violence mobilizes supporters, giving us a masculine efficacy and belonging to a cause larger than ourselves.
Fascism offers us psychological regression. Fascism exchanges the anxiety of our individual responsibility for a dominant, victimized collective led by a paternal, omnipotent leader.
MAGA Is American Fascism! It has the structural and rhetorical characteristics of fascism.
The Cult of Personality and the Leader: Central to fascism is the absolute, unquestionable authority of the leader. The MAGA movement is devoted to one person, Donald Trump. Loyalty to him is higher than loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, the party platform, or historical conservative principles. Any dissent or failure is a betrayal by the “Deep State” or “Fake News” media, reinforcing a profound anti-intellectualism and rejection of objective truth.
Aggressive Nationalism and Nostalgia: The slogan “Make America Great Again” is fascist nostalgia—the promise to restore a mythical golden age that was stolen by internal enemies, such as immigrants, leftists, and the LGBTQ+ Community. The language of national decline and victimhood is aggressive and demands that Our Nation project strength and reject global cooperation.
The Threat of Political Violence: The MAGA movement relies on the threat and use of violence, seen in events like the January 6th attack on the Capitol. This violence is excused or glorified by Trump as a patriotic duty necessary to fight existential enemies (the Deep State, socialists, immigrants). The use of terms like “traitors,” “vermin,” and “enemies of the people” dehumanizes political opponents and creates a moral license for violence.
Disdain for Democracy:
MAGA views democracy as weak and inefficient. The MAGA movement delegitimizes institutions: the electoral process (the “stolen election” narrative), the justice system (“weaponization of government”), and the legislative branch. The goal is to replace the rule of law with the leader’s personal will and the direct action of his loyal followers.
Conclusion: Fascism is a political system of resentment that transforms our personal anxiety into political aggression. Fascism appeals to us by offering certainty, belonging, and a target for blame. MAGA uses structural and rhetorical elements of historical fascism—a cult of the leader, aggressive nationalism, the mobilization of popular resentment, and a profound contempt for democracy—to exert authoritarian power.
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