To grow, fascist movements exploit key gaps in our knowledge.

Standard subconscious biases help fascist leaders succeed.

Every free society needs a civics self-defense course to resist the flirtations of fascist leaders.

Fascism is the troublesome political ideology that just won’t go away. It usually begins with great enthusiasm, only to end with catastrophe and regret. Despite this record of misery and failure, fascism continues to attract true believers. It typically gains traction when levels of frustration, fear, anger, and resentment rise a little too high within a relatively free society. People love answers, true or false, that seem to explain their unease. They demand change, and some especially want the kind of change that hurts groups of people they don’t like. Enter stage right, the grinning pseudo-patriot problem solver who promises to make it all better with a mild dose of fascism.

Fascism lacks a concise universal definition, so it may be helpful to think of it as a kind of nebulous political religion. Or, more practically, consider it a cruel playbook for gaining power at the expense of others. At its core, fascism is an emotional, anti-democratic, and anti-intellectual slide into authoritarian rule. Citizens’ rights and the rule of law are trampled by fascism’s run to power. History, science, and ethical norms must compete with smoke-and-mirrors shows designed to deaden minds and win hearts. When some critical mass of people agree that backward is forward and evil is good, fascism can thrive.

Fascist movements do not require a brilliant leader to grow. Intelligence and competence are less important than a deficiency of integrity, empathy,........

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