The Core Myth of True Fascism

Fascism is often misunderstood as just being aggressive or authoritarian. At its heart, it is actually defined by the belief that a nation must suffer a total collapse before it can be reborn in a new, idealized form.

This idea is known as palingenesis, a term borrowed from biology that describes the rebirth of an organism. Political theorists argue that fascists view their current society as decadent and dying, requiring a revolutionary purge to reset the clock. By promising a mythical national awakening, leaders turn despair into a powerful, destructive political force. It is not just about control, but about creating a new reality from the ashes of the old.