The concept of 14 characteristics of fascism is most commonly associated with writer Lawrence W. Britt, who articulated a set of recurring traits he observed across several authoritarian regimes commonly described as fascist.*
These characteristics are widely cited in public and political discourse as a descriptive framework for identifying fascist tendencies in governments and movements, though they are not universally accepted as a definitive scholarly definition.
Lawrence Britt’s 14 Characteristics of Fascism:
- Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – Constant use of patriotic symbols, slogans, and flags.
- Disdain for Human Rights – Torture, executions, and imprisonment justified in the name of security.
- Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats – Unifying the population against perceived internal or external threats.
- Supremacy of the Military – Disproportionate military spending and glorification of soldiers.
- Rampant Sexism – Male-dominated power structures and rigid gender roles.
- Controlled Mass Media – Direct or indirect censorship and intimidation of journalists.
- Obsession with National Security – Fear used as a tool to mobilize public opinion.
- Religion and Government Intertwined – Use of religious language and symbolism to legitimize state power.
- Corporate Power Protected – Close relationships between government and business elites.
- Labor Power Suppressed – Independent labor unions eliminated or tightly controlled.
- Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – Hostility toward academia and cultural expression.
- Obsession with Crime and Punishment – Expanded police power and erosion of civil liberties.
- Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – Governance by loyalists and enrichment of elites.
- Fraudulent or Manipulated Elections – Legal, media, or coercive means used to undermine democratic outcomes.
An alternative and more academically influential framework comes from Umberto Eco, who outlined 14 characteristics of “Ur-Fascism” in his 1995 essay of the same name.
While Britt’s framework is descriptive and policy-focused, Eco’s is psychological and ideological, aimed at identifying the cultural mindset that enables fascism. Both are best used as analytical tools rather than rigid definitions.
Eco’s characteristics include:
- Cult of tradition
- Rejection of modernism
- Cult of action for action’s sake
- Disagreement seen as treason
- Fear of difference
- Appeal to a frustrated middle class
- Obsession with conspiracy
- Enemies portrayed as both strong and weak
- Pacifism framed as betrayal
- Contempt for the weak
- Education oriented toward heroism and martyrdom
- Machismo and the cult of weapons
- Selective populism
- Newspeak (impoverished language used to limit critical thought)
*Britt is an American writer and commentator, not a political scientist, and his list became famous in his essay, which was not a peer-reviewed academic research paper. Some regimes he referenced (such as Suharto’s Indonesia or Pinochet’s Chile) are more commonly classified by scholars as right-wing authoritarian or military dictatorships rather than classical fascist states, but they’re not exactly great company either.