By Zlatko Kramarić*|ARGUMENTUM
Ambassador of Croatia to Albania
Introduction
Fascism is often viewed as a historical phenomenon, limited to Italy and Germany in the 20th century. However, thanks to the recommendation of my colleague Neven Sesardić, who pointed me to the relevant literature, I became acquainted with Jason Stanley’s book How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them.^1 Stanley warns that fascism is not merely a specific political regime, but a set of patterns, tactics, and cultural mechanisms that can be reproduced within contemporary democracies. He particularly emphasises that fascist tendencies may exist even where they are not immediately visible—through information manipulation, mythologising of the past, constructing various threats, and creating social hierarchies.
Key Pillars of Fascist Politics (Stanley)
-Jason Stanley identifies ten interconnected patterns of fascist strategy:^2
-Mythic Past and the Identity of “Us” vs. “Them”
“Fascist politics invokes a mythical, pure past that was supposedly tragically destroyed. Depending on the definition of the nation, that mythical past may be religiously, racially, or culturally pure—or all of these at once.”^3
This emphasises, in the clearest possible way, the central motif of fascism: the idealisation of a “pure” past used to justify the exclusion and mobilisation against all those who are “different”.
-Propaganda and Manipulation of Information
-Anti-intellectualism
-Politics of Unreality
“Fascist politics replaces reality with the declarations of a single person or political party. Regular and persistent lying is part of the process through which fascist politics destroys the informational space.”^4
-Hierarchy and Superiority
-Victimisation of ‘Us’
“The danger of fascist politics stems from the way it dehumanises segments of the population. By excluding these groups, it reduces the capacity for empathy among other citizens, leading to the justification of inhumane treatment—from repression of freedoms, mass incarceration, and expulsion, to, in extreme cases, mass destruction.”^5
-Authoritarian State and ‘Law and Order’
-Manipulation of Gender and Sexual Norms
-Rural vs. Urban Division
-Destruction of Solidarity and Public Goods
“Fascist politics does not need to lead to an explicitly fascist state to remain dangerous. It includes a series of strategies: mythical past, propaganda, anti-intellectualism, unreality, hierarchy, victimisation, law and order, sexual anxiety, appeals to a ‘central homeland,’ and the dismantling of public solidarity and the welfare system.”^6
Stanley stresses that the presence of these patterns does not always amount to a full dictatorship; rather, they constitute a systemic pattern that supports authoritarian and discriminatory tendencies.
Authentic Anti-Fascism and the Croatian Context
Authentic Western European anti-fascism is a derivative of critical thinking. Its strength lies in the re-examination of the past, the analysis of social patterns, and the active defence of democratic values. It is always rooted in concrete reality: in resistance to actual threats that logically arise from the fascisisation of society—such as authoritarianism and the discrimination of all (undesirable) forms of difference.
In Croatia, however, the articulation of anti-fascism in certain marches shows significant deviation from this model. The recent march of “quasi-antifascists” is an example of a situation where anti-fascism is formally promoted, yet in reality messages are sent that, in one way or another, are directed against the Croatian nation, language, script, and tradition, as well as against the Croatian economy.
For how else should we interpret the banner in English stating: “Foreign tourists, you are not safe in Croatia”?
I would genuinely like someone from the organisers of that march to explain the connection between this message and anti-fascism! Moreover, on which research is this absurd claim based regarding the alleged danger faced by foreign tourists (Serbs, Jews, foreign workers)…?
We must therefore note once again that such an approach cannot be an example of what is considered authentic anti-fascism. On the contrary, it produces contradictory effects: instead of protecting democracy and social cohesion, it unerringly leads not only to the polarisation of society, but also endangers the national foundations of the state, the Constitution, its laws, and ultimately—Truth itself!
Indeed, this “anti-fascist march” was an exemplary case of how “anti-fascist rhetoric” carried out the destruction of the public informational sphere, how it created a “state of unreality,” where truth lost all significance and where (political) propaganda entirely supplanted any idea of truth.
Therefore, authentic anti-fascism must remain critical of negative phenomena in society and, as such, must protect pluralism, freedom, and the independence of institutions. It must not participate in imposing (a euphemism for classic provocations) questionable (and outdated) transnational communities or ideological constructs that openly challenge the national identity of the majority community.
References
Jason Stanley, How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (New York: Random House, 2018).
Stanley, How Fascism Works, chap. 2–4.
Stanley, How Fascism Works, p. 15. We do not claim that such tendencies do not exist in Croatian society, but in our view, they are marginal and have no significant support in the (Croatian) public sphere, media, parliament, or scholarship.
Stanley, How Fascism Works, p. 33. This observation by Stanley further confirms how important it is to critically question the media, dominant political rhetoric, and the information contributing to the creation of dominant public perceptions of (Croatian) reality.
Stanley, How Fascism Works, p. 48. This once again confirms that fascist tendencies do not necessarily have to lead to a totalitarian state to be dangerous; in many cases, it is enough to exclude certain individuals, groups, or communities from society. I would like to hear which individuals, groups, or communities are, in any way, excluded from Croatian society—and that such exclusion is the result of state policy?!
Stanley, How Fascism Works, p. 22.
*Zlatko Kramarić is a Croatian publicist, author, and diplomat, currently serving as Ambassador to Albania. Formerly a university professor and politician, he is known for his work in literature, cultural studies, and regional history.
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