Fascist leaders don’t gain power through just violence—they also do it by creating enemies, often targeting minority groups. They try to make people believe these groups are a danger to the country’s safety, values, or identity. This creates fear and divides the population, making it easier for the leaders to seize control.
Blaming others, also called scapegoating, offers easy answers to hard problems. Instead of fixing the real causes of issues, fascist leaders point the finger at vulnerable groups like immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, or those with different religions.
This article is part of a multipart series. You can see the entire series here.Creating an “Enemy Within”
Fascist leaders increase power by creating an “enemy within”—a group they claim is dangerous, untrustworthy, or against the country’s values. They blame problems in society on these groups instead of taking responsibility for poor leadership or broken systems. These targeted groups are treated as less than human and are blamed for things like crime, economic problems, or cultural change. Fascist leaders use feelings of anger or fear to bring people together against this common enemy.
This tactic helps them pass unjust laws and stops anyone who disagrees. People who stand up for the targeted group are called unpatriotic or enemies, making it easier for the leaders to ignore basic rights and freedoms. They pretend the country is united, but really, they are just cutting out the people they are blaming.
Historical Examples of Scapegoating
- The Nazi Party blamed Jewish people for Germany’s money problems, political chaos, and cultural changes. This led to widespread discrimination and eventually the Holocaust.
- In Italy, Benito Mussolini’s government targeted ethnic minorities, especially Slavs and Jews, calling them threats to the country’s unity and strength.
- During the Yugoslav Wars, Serbian leaders used hateful messages about Muslims and Croats to start violent conflict and gain more power for Serbs.
- In Russia, Vladimir Putin’s government has claimed that LGBTQ+ people are a danger to Russian culture and children. This idea has helped him gain support from religious and conservative groups and distract people from the country’s economic problems and political repression.
Unifying the Majority Through Division
Fascist leaders create fear and anger toward marginalized groups to unite the majority. This unity is based on leaving “the others” out. They make people believe that “we” are good and deserve power, while “they” are dangerous or bad. This creates a twisted idea of what it means to belong to the country—not based on who people are, but on who they are told to hate. This false unity—built by dividing people—becomes a way for fascist leaders to stay in control.
Warning Signs Leaders are Scapegoating
- Blaming a minority group for the country’s problems
- Spreading lies or conspiracy theories about the group
- Calling the group cruel names like “vermin,” “infiltrators,” or “a disease”
- Saying the group is a danger to women or children
- Using falls news reports to make people more afraid of the group
- Talking about “traditional values” as a reason to exclude the group
- Suggesting or enacting laws that take away the group’s rights or freedoms
- Criticizing or attacking people who stand up for the group
- Allowing or encouraging violence or hate against the group
- Saying the country can only be strong or pure if the group is removed or silenced
This article is part of a multipart series. You can see the entire series here.
