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The Eternal Mechanism of Fascism
The political history of the 20th century taught a terrible lesson that each generation seems condemned to relearn. Fascism never arrives announcing its name. It doesn’ t emerge in black uniforms with disturbing flags. It enters through a door deemed acceptable, even respectable. It begins by designating a defenseless group as responsible for decline. A group that can be stigmatized without too much risk. Yesterday, in Nazi Germany, it was the Jews. Today, in many democracies, it’ s immigrants. Through cowardice or calculation, we always target those who have the least means to defend themselves. This mechanism is ancient, documented, terribly effective. And it’ s starting again before our eyes.
Flashmag! Issue 169 February 2026
Divide and Conquer
By pitting precarious populations against each other— immigrants against local workers, Black Americans against new arrivals— the system protects its foundations. As long as working classes fight each other for crumbs, they don’ t look upward. They don’ t question the structure that creates precarity. They don’ t unite to demand better. It’ s the oldest strategy of political domination: divide and conquer.
Cleanup after the events of November 9, 1938, known as Kristallnacht, during which several Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed in Germany.
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