Rashism as the most degraded stage of fascism

Abstract

A new apt term rashism appeared in the political vocabulary and scientific literature in 2022 to describe the essence of an authoritarian dictatorship, militant and aggressive, which appeals to the lower instincts of the population of the state, capturing not only its marginal groups but the general public. Scholars around the world are looking for (and fi nding) common features of rashism and classical (Italian) fascism and German Nazism. We believe that by focusing on fi nding common features in fascism, Nazism and rashism, domestic and foreign scholars overlook the diff erences. This allows the Russian side to exploit the gap, pushing the world community to profi table for themselves, and in fact – fake «diff erences» (such as the alleged multiparty system of the Russian political system). The article focuses on the question of how rashism diff ers from fascism and Nazism. We will also examine the alleged multiparty system of the Russian parliamentary branch of government and its attitude to aggression in Ukraine and the annexation of Ukrainian state territories. To solve this issue, a number of general and special scientifi c methods were used, public statements of Russian top offi cials and direct actions of the Russian army in Ukraine were analyzed. In total, at least five distinctive features have been identifi ed. 1. Rashism is multinational and polyreligious fascism. 2. Rashism is ultra-chauvinistic fascism. 3. Rashism is dishonest fascism. 4. Rashism is corrupt mafi a fascism. 5. Rashism is vulgar fascism. On the other hand, rashism cannot deny its fascist nature by referring to alleged multiparty system. As of the beginning of the summer of 2022, all parties represented in the Duma jointly support the aggressive foreign policy of their state and its notorious president. Rashism is the most degraded, vulgarized fascism, which should be placed in the dustbin of history. As for the prospects for further research in this direction, we believe that they should be held mainly in the form of a direct discussion with the apologists of the «Russian world» and their ideological allies in the West. Not only depth of argumentation, but also the rapid response to the facts distortion from the opponents’ side will have a decisive importance. Key words: rashism as a form of fascism, Russian aggression against Ukraine, the ruling party in Russia, religious institutions in Putin’s Russia.