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Fascism Doesn’t Always Wear a Uniform
According to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, there are 14 early warning signs of fascism.
12/06/2025
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
After the LA riots, Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell conducted a talk on YouTube, where they discussed the “14 early warning signs of fascism,” as defined by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
These are the signs mentioned:
- Powerful and continuing nationalism
- Disdain for human rights
- Identification of enemies as a unifying cause
- Supremacy of the military
- Rampant sexism
- Controlled mass media
- Obsession with national security
- Religion and government intertwined
- Corporate power protected
- Labor power suppressed
- Disdain for intellectuals and the arts
- Obsession with crime and punishment
- Rampant cronyism and corruption
- Fraudulent elections
If we look at Central Europe, we can easily spot similarities—but I believe only if we’ve experienced them firsthand. Those who haven’t may still believe things are as they always used to be. You may be living in a bubble where such occurrences are rare, or in an area where they aren’t as common. But if you haven’t been living in such a bubble or area, you’ll likely have observed what I have.
Nationalism
We’re seeing more nationalism now than we have in many years. People are no longer ashamed to show it. In the past, many hid it, and certain right-wing ideas weren’t as widespread. Although some voted for far-right parties in the past, we see far more people supporting them today.
Supremacy of Security Forces
We don’t see supremacy of the military in Austria, but—oh man—how many policemen and new police cars do we need? This is far beyond what we knew one or two decades ago. They are everywhere, at least in bigger cities like Vienna. Does it make the city safer? I don’t believe so. My experience shows that they often protect perpetrators more than victims. They aren’t educated in spotting dangerous individuals or in distinguishing between those with personality disorders like psychopathy or sociopathy and those without. From what I’ve seen, domestic violence is not taken seriously at all. Legitimate reports about your life being at risk—especially as a woman—are usually dismissed.
Disdain for Human Rights
Disdain for human rights was visible in my custody trials, which were horrific in terms of violations. Ironically, the courts were so unwilling to have us appear in person that we weren’t even heard in any of the trials—before decisions were made. That applied from the first to the third instance.
Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg shares his view in this interview (in German) that the courts in Germany are not independent at all. I have had a similar experience in Austria.
Corporate Power Protected
Corporate power being protected is also common. If you’ve ever been fired unfairly, be prepared: the courts will probably side with those who have more power, such as corporations. You certainly can’t rely on the courts being fair—especially if you’re a woman. As a woman, you face unfair treatment all the time—regardless of whether the judge is male or female.
Obsession with Punishment
There is a subtle obsession with punishment in Austria. You may need to look closely, as it’s more covert than overt. People are punished for minor things, often with the assumption that they lack the power, support, or voice to fight back, and usually they do.
Rampant Sexism
Rampant sexism—if you’ve read my blog, you’ll have seen some evidence of it, and I haven’t even shared everything. When I lived in Vienna, I experienced it daily. Men often assumed I was easy to sleep with, even when they were in positions where such behavior was legally unacceptable—and certainly when they weren’t remotely attractive enough. I’ve experienced sexual harassment not just once, but repeatedly. It was horrific. I never imagined I’d have to quit jobs because of it or go to great lengths—contacting people, taking precautions—just to protect myself.
Corporations often protect employees in higher positions and prioritize men over women. Sexism from women is a real issue too—especially when a woman in power feels threatened by your age, appearance, or confidence. In such cases, she might always side with men, claim you’re “just seeking attention,” or portray you as less credible simply because you’re a woman.
Misogyny and Violence
Inceldom has become widespread, and we are seeing an extreme surge in misogynistic behavior among men of my generation (I’m 37 this year, turning 38 soon). There is also a sharp rise in violence—including violence against women—who are not being adequately protected. Misogyny stretches into every corner of countries like Austria and Germany.
Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Disdain for intellectuals and the arts is visible when we look at cancel culture. In Germany, professors may lose their jobs for voicing critical opinions. I’m not sure how frequent this is in Austria, but I’ve heard it happens. Still, I’ve noticed that few people speak up about it—which may be due to silencing, threats, or fear of legal consequences. That’s dangerous. If people can’t speak the truth without fearing consequences, most will choose not to speak at all. And that weakens democracy.
Bloggers like me are also targeted—horrifically. Haha, the times we live in, right?
Fraudulent Elections
As for fraudulent elections—I don’t believe this is an issue in Austria. However, I’ve noticed how certain parties use the internet and platforms like TikTok for intense propaganda. The problem isn’t that they’re using these platforms—it’s how they’re using them. Many have hired influencers to promote their views, and it’s nearly impossible to avoid their content. If all you see on YouTube or TikTok is AfD content while everything else is drowned out, then we have a serious problem. It’s not just that certain voices are louder—they’re using manipulative tactics that go beyond fair campaigning.
I believe there should be limits to how much propaganda parties can spread—especially if their ideologies harm certain groups. The issue isn’t how many followers these parties have; it’s how they got them. Did they use fair means, or did they hire armies of influencers to gain an advantage? Without these aggressive marketing tactics, I doubt they would’ve gained such a following.
There’s a difference between making your message heard and using manipulative, propagandistic methods.
Which signs can you spot in your own country?