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Characteristics of fascism include a belief that the state is more important than the individual; a leaning towards authoritarian government; an emphasis on [[nationalism]] and national traditions; militarism; information control and censorship; and a rejection both of free enterprise and [[Social democracy]] in favor of [[corporatism|corporatist]] economic policies. The fourteen characteristics of fascism also include rampant [[cronyism]] and [[corruption]] as well as general disdain for human rights and rigged elections.<ref>Dr. Lawrence Britt ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20)</ref>

Characteristics of fascism include a belief that the state is more important than the individual; a leaning towards authoritarian government; an emphasis on [[nationalism]] and national traditions; militarism; information control and censorship; and a rejection both of free enterprise and [[Social democracy]] in favor of [[corporatism|corporatist]] economic policies. The fourteen characteristics of fascism also include rampant [[cronyism]] and [[corruption]] as well as general disdain for human rights and rigged elections.<ref>Dr. Lawrence Britt ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20)</ref>

The prototypical fascist regime was that of [[Benito Mussolini]], who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. Other regimes which included fascist elements are those of [[Francisco Franco]] in Spain (1936-1975) and [[Antonio Salazar]] in Portugal (1932-1968). German [[Nazism]] adds to fascism an obsession with [[race]].  Austrian economist [[Friedrich Hayek]] observed in the final stages of [[World War II]], "the rise of fascism and [[Marxism]] was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of those tendencies. Although many of the leaders of these movements, including Mussolini himself initially flirted with socialism before becoming fascists, most serious scholars consider fascism to be a movement of the right. <ref>John Hoffman and Paul Graham. ''Introduction to Political Theory''. Pearson 2006, p. 288. ISBN 0-582-47373-X.</ref>

The prototypical fascist regime was that of [[Benito Mussolini]], who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. Other regimes which included fascist elements are those of [[Francisco Franco]] in Spain (1936-1975) and [[Antonio Salazar]] in Portugal (1932-1968). German [[Nazism]] adds to fascism an obsession with [[race]].  Austrian economist [[Friedrich Hayek]] observed in the final stages of [[World War II]], "the rise of fascism and [[Marxism]] was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of those tendencies. Yet it is significant that many of the leaders of these movements, from Mussolini down (and including [[Laval]] and [[Quisling]]) began as socialists and ended as fascists or Nazis. <ref>Friedrich A. Hayek, [http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 31 - 32.</ref>

Fascism was comprehensively discredited in the eyes of most Westerners because of the defeat of the [[Axis]] powers in [[World War II]], and "fascist" is today frequently used as a term of abuse both on the left and on the right against one's political opponents. While few people are willing to describe themselves as fascists or endorse the fascist regimes of the past, fascist parties and parties descended from fascist parties (such as the [[Alleanza Nazionale]] in [[Italy]]) continue to be a minor force in European politics. Fascism seems not to flourish in countries with an Anglo-centric heritage: America, Australia and Canada have never had significant fascist movements, and the [[British Union of Fascists]] was never an important force in UK politics.

Fascism was comprehensively discredited in the eyes of most Westerners because of the defeat of the [[Axis]] powers in [[World War II]], and "fascist" is today frequently used as a term of abuse both on the left and on the right against one's political opponents. While few people are willing to describe themselves as fascists or endorse the fascist regimes of the past, fascist parties and parties descended from fascist parties (such as the [[Alleanza Nazionale]] in [[Italy]]) continue to be a minor force in European politics. Fascism seems not to flourish in countries with an Anglo-centric heritage: America, Australia and Canada have never had significant fascist movements, and the [[British Union of Fascists]] was never an important force in UK politics.