United States | News & Politics

12 Early Warning Signs of Fascism

Powerful and continuing nationalism

Constant flag-waving, slogans about “greatness,” and framing dissent as unpatriotic.

Us-vs-them thinking (scapegoating)

Blaming minorities, immigrants, or internal “enemies” for social or economic problems.

Disdain for human rights

Justifying abuses as necessary for security, order, or national survival.

Identification of enemies as a unifying cause

A shared fear or hatred is used to rally the population and suppress debate.

Supremacy of the military or security forces

Excessive glorification of police, military, or “law and order,” often alongside expanded powers.

Rampant sexism and rigid gender roles

Hostility toward feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, or non-traditional family structures.

Controlled or attacked media

Journalists labeled as enemies, “fake news,” or pressured through legal, financial, or political means.

Obsession with national security

Fear is used to justify surveillance, emergency powers, and erosion of civil liberties.

Religion intertwined with government

A dominant religion is used to justify laws, policies, or moral authority.

Corporate power protected, labor power suppressed

Close alignment between the state and favored businesses; unions and workers’ rights weakened.

Disdain for intellectuals and experts

Attacks on universities, scientists, teachers, and “elites,” often paired with anti-education rhetoric.

Erosion of democratic norms

Undermining elections, courts, or checks and balances while claiming to represent the “true will of the people.”