Fascism

**Fascism** is a somewhat prominent, yet largely defunct ideology in the world of *Suzerain*. Promoting extensive authoritarian measures and the placement of absolute power within the hands of the state, this system has largely been discredited and destroyed thanks to the efforts of superpowers Arcasia and United Contana, as well as the indomitable people of [Europe], during the (insert conflict reminiscent of WW2). However, some nations, such as Wehlen, still indirectly operate under such systems of government; even so, they are a small, erratic minority, and unlikely to survive long into the next decades.

## Ideals

This is a bit of a touchy subject, so some of the information may be found disturbing, especially when considering the accompanying notions of racial superiority that inherently rest at the center of such nations and systems. For a comprehensive description of this very real system of belief, please consult this page <-(link wikipedia page to the words "this page").

Within *Suzerain*, Fascism is essentially a carbon-copy of the actual ideology. The only truly fascist state (and unofficially, at that) is the Republic of Wehlen, which displays all the hallmarks of a fascist state; it will be used as an example for the purposes of this discussion.

Wehlen has a "President", Wiktor Smolak, who rose to power through, as is so typical with these states, a military coup. The nation maintains near-total control over its military and people, and oppresses and scapegoats an ethnic minority, the Bludish. In fact, one of the new Sordish President's most important foreign policy decisions is whether or not to participate in what is effectively a genocide against the Bludish people launched by Smolak. If he refuses, Wehlen cuts all ties to Sordland, and attempts the crackdown itself. But if he accepts the offer...Wehlen will give its full economic support to Sordland.

All of these details reveal the major tenets of fascism:

* Hypernationalism - describe, this often leads to racial conflict, as ethnicity is often considered a factor in national identity within the bounds of fascism
* Absolute Power to the State -
* Military Dictatorship -
* etc

## Global Presence

In Wehlen and partially in Sordland, especially among extremist elements of the Young Sords and Old Guard; somewhat reminiscent of Soll's reign, although Fascism is far more extreme, and Soll's crackdowns were nowhere near the genocides brought about by true Fascist states.

## References

While this is not exclusive to *Suzerain*, it is an interesting aside on the subject of fascism:

* The term originates from a metaphor regarding a bundle of sticks: individually, each stick can easily be broken; however, as a bundle, they stand strong together, and are extremely difficult to split. While the analogy itself is not immediately conducive to authoritarianism, it does propagate a group-oriented mentality; in the words of Spock, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
* As a result, the "creator" of this ideology, Benito Mussolini, employed the Italian word *Fascismo*, literally meaning *bundle of sticks*, as the term meant to denote such systems and ideals. Naturally, the word has entered the English language fairly unchanged, and is known to us today as Fascism.
* You may also find it somewhat ironic that fascist states often present themselves as Socialist Republics, even though they are literally polar opposites of such systems (in fact, the term *Republic* refers exclusively to governments **without** a monarch or dictator; yet again, the exact opposite of the Fascist ideal).