Don’t be embarrassed, it’s a common mistake. You look around and think, Yep, this is it. Paramilitary deportations, apocalyptic foreign policy, and private corporations looting the federal government. This has to be the Fourth Reich.
Not so fast, my friend. That’s a protected term. Technically speaking, it’s only the Fourth Reich if it comes from the Reich region of Germany. Everything else is just sparkling fascism.
Fascism can come from anywhere, of course. Spain and Italy have produced their own versions over the years. Some of the stuff coming out of California rivals the classic vintages. However, only one region holds this unique appellation.
This is fascism, obviously. No one is arguing that. It’s simply a matter of designation. You see, every region has what they call terroir, something in the land that imparts a certain je ne sais quoi on a given far-right government. You might not be able to describe it, but you know it when you see it.
The economy is tanking, public services are being stripped for parts, and the government’s only solution is to pump more money into the police and military. This can’t be anything other than the Fourth Reich. Nein! You could label it “Fourth Reich Style” or “Fourth Reich Method,” but don’t confuse this with the real thing.
Believe me, I see where you are coming from. A white South African is tag-teaming with a New York City real estate developer. Those are textbook Fourth Reich ingredients. It’s not a matter of better or worse, I’m just saying that only one type of fascist insurgency can lay claim to that special title.
I know I’m splitting hairs. When higher education is outlawed and your local post office is sold to a used car dealer, most people aren’t worried about naming conventions. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, as they say. But rules are rules, dammit. If everything can be called the Fourth Reich, that devalues the work of longtime German Reich producers.
Think of this as an opportunity. You have a whole new brand of American fascism. Why lean on old protected terms when you can coin a new one? How about “French Fry Fascism” or “Anti-Vax Authoritarianism”? Maybe “Yankee Doodle Death Spiral”? That has a nice ring to it. You could put that on a T-shirt.
Look on the bright side. You don’t need Europe anymore to define what is or isn’t a fascist death cult. You have your own style, your own spin on it. If that doesn’t brighten your day, I don’t know what will. Cheers!