Ten Steps to Fascism

Notes I found while packing today. They are from Naomi Wolf’s article and book in which she argues that constitutional rights, civil liberties, and independent media are being eroded in the United States.

Step 1: Invoke and external and internal threat
Create a terrifying enemy

Step 2: Establish secret prisons
Create a Gulag

Step 3: Develop a paramilitary force
Create a thug caste

Step 4: Surveil ordinary citizens
Create an internal surveillance system

Step 5: Infiltrate citizens’ groups

Step 6: Arbitrarily detain and release citizens

Step 7: Target key individuals
Threaten civil servants, artists and academics

Step 8: Restrict the press
Control the press, but do not shut it down

Step 9: Cast criticism as “espionage” and dissent as “treason”
Create enemies of the state

Step 10: Subvert or suspend the rule of law