Fact Check: Fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear.

Fact Check: Fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear.

Published July 5, 2025
by TruthOrFake AI
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VERDICT
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# Fact Check: "Fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear." ## What We Know Fascist leaders throughout history have oft...

Fact Check: "Fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear."

What We Know

Fascist leaders throughout history have often risen to power by capitalizing on national crises and public fear. Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, in her lecture at UC Santa Barbara, emphasized that authoritarian leaders exploit fear, division, and nationalism to gain and maintain power. She noted that from historical figures like Mussolini to contemporary leaders such as Italy's Giorgia Meloni, the tactics remain consistent: portraying political opponents as enemies and marginalized groups as threats to societal stability (source-1).

Moreover, the manipulation of public opinion is a critical strategy employed by fascist regimes. They utilize propaganda and media control to shape narratives that foster division and fear, often creating an "us versus them" mentality (source-2, source-3). This tactic has been historically effective, as seen during the rise of fascism in Europe, where leaders like Adolf Hitler exploited economic crises to scapegoat minorities and offer simplistic solutions to complex societal problems (source-3, source-4).

Analysis

The claim that fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear is supported by a wealth of historical and contemporary evidence. Ben-Ghiat's analysis highlights the continuity of authoritarian tactics across different contexts and eras. The use of fear as a political tool is not only a historical observation but also a current reality, as seen in the rhetoric of leaders like Meloni and Trump, who frame immigration and other issues as existential threats (source-1).

The credibility of the sources is bolstered by their academic and journalistic integrity. Ben-Ghiat is a respected historian with expertise in authoritarianism, and her insights are supported by extensive research into the mechanics of fascism (source-1). Other sources, such as articles analyzing the rise of fascism, also provide a historical context that reinforces the claim (source-2, source-3).

Critically, the manipulation of public opinion through propaganda and media control is a recurring theme in fascist strategies, suggesting that the exploitation of fear is not merely opportunistic but a calculated approach to consolidating power (source-4, source-5).

Conclusion

The claim that "fascist leaders gain power by exploiting national crises and public fear" is True. Historical evidence and contemporary analysis consistently demonstrate that authoritarian leaders utilize fear and crises to manipulate public sentiment, scapegoat marginalized groups, and justify extreme policies. This pattern is evident in both historical contexts and modern political landscapes, confirming the validity of the claim.

Sources

  1. The Authoritarian Playbook: Using Fear and Crisis to Gain ...
  2. How fascism works, and how to stop it: Dehumanizing ...
  3. How Fascism Works the Politics of US and Them
  4. A Look at Fascism
  5. The Power of Fear. Unveiling the Origin of Prejudice and…
  6. The Seductive Appeal of Fascism: What Drew Europeans to ...
  7. The rise of fascism | Honors World History Class Notes
  8. Revisiting the rise of Italian fascism

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