Fighting Fascism Glossary
✨ Language is power. ✨ When we talk about fighting fascism, it’s important that we’re all grounded in the same language. Knowing these terms helps us name what we’re up against, call it out when we see it, and take action together. 📚 Education is resistance. By learning and sharing these definitions, we strengthen our collective power and ensure our community is on the same page as we build a more just and liberated future.
tyranny - a system of government in which one ruler has sole and unlimited power.
oligarchy - a government that is controlled by a small group of people, typically wealthy people who share similar ideals and views.
exec order - a document, signed by the president, that tells the government certain steps to ensure laws are executed. Ex: steps, policies, and regulations towards a department or federal system.
martial law - military forces temporarily take power of the government and laws, typically in times of crisis.
state of emergency - is a situation in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures and may enact policies that it would normally not be permitted to do under the guise of safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, or after a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemic or epidemic or other biosecurity risk.
curfew - an order that restricts the movement of people, normally at night. Curfews have been used during times of martial law as control measures.
organize - systematically arrange and coordinate people, resources, and activities to achieve a specific goal or advance a particular belief or movement
advocate - support and promote the interests of others or a cause
agitate - to campaign or argue for something to stir up public opinion or promote action
fascism - model of government that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of the nation over the individual
antifascism - also known as antifa, opposition to fascist ideologies and governments
solidarity - unity and mutual support among individuals or groups, often in pursuit of a common goal or shared interest
patriarchy - social system in which men hold primary power and dominate in leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property
neo-colonialism - former colonial powers exert influence over less developed countries through economic, political, and cultural means, rather than direct military control
capitalism - an economic system where the means of production are privately owned and produces goods and services to be sold for profit at the marketplace
tariff - taxes imposed by one country on goods imported from another country
propaganda - systemic dissemination of information or ideas in order to promote a specific cause and influence public opinion
monopoly - when a single company or entity dominates the supply of a good or service allowing them to set the prices without competition