Conservatism Is Not Fascism: Rejecting a Dangerous False Equivalence

 

In recent years, an unsettling trend has taken root within much of the mainstream media: the attempt to brand conservatism as synonymous with fascism. This conflation is not only intellectually dishonest but deeply corrosive to the health of public discourse and democracy itself. To equate a mainstream political philosophy—rooted in principles such as limited government, individual responsibility, and respect for tradition—with an extremist ideology that advocates authoritarianism, suppression of dissent, and the eradication of freedom is an act of gross distortion.

Conservatism, in its essence, seeks to preserve enduring values and institutions while recognizing the need for measured, thoughtful change. It emphasizes the importance of family, community, faith, and cultural continuity. It champions free enterprise, individual liberty, and a healthy skepticism of concentrated power—whether in the hands of the state or large institutions. Conservatism is a philosophy that believes societies flourish when responsibility, morality, and order guide freedom.

These are not radical, dangerous, or authoritarian ideas. On the contrary, they are principles that have undergirded democratic societies for centuries.

Fascism, by contrast, is an authoritarian ideology marked by the centralization of power, suppression of dissent, militarism, and often racial or ethnic nationalism. Fascists reject democracy, embrace violence as a political tool, and demand absolute conformity. The 20th-century fascist regimes in Italy and Germany brought humanity some of its darkest chapters—mass persecution, world war, and genocide.

To equate conservatism with fascism is to erase the real, deadly history of fascism and insult the millions who suffered under its heel. It also serves to smear millions of ordinary citizens who hold conservative views, casting them unfairly as enemies of democracy when, in fact, many are among its staunchest defenders

The conflation of conservatism with fascism appears less about accuracy and more about political strategy. By demonizing conservatism as inherently authoritarian, critics aim to delegitimize political opponents without engaging their ideas. It is far easier to silence someone by calling them dangerous than to debate their vision of governance, economics, or morality.

This tactic, however, comes at a steep cost. It poisons civic dialogue, deepens polarization, and erodes trust in media institutions that are supposed to inform rather than indoctrinate. Worse still, it blinds society to the real threats of extremism by crying wolf every time a conservative position is articulated.

A functioning democracy depends on the clash of ideas, where liberals, conservatives, moderates, and independents all contribute to the shaping of policy and culture. To smear one of these perspectives as inherently fascist is to narrow the public square and silence millions of voices.

If every call for fiscal responsibility, traditional family values, or limited government is dismissed as proto-fascism, then dialogue dies, and division deepens. We cannot allow disagreement to be weaponized into delegitimization. Conservatives and liberals alike should be able to debate with mutual respect, grounded in truth rather than caricature.

The attempt to equate conservatism with fascism is a dangerous and dishonest trend that undermines democracy. Conservatism is not authoritarianism—it is a legitimate, vital worldview that values liberty, tradition, and order. Fascism, on the other hand, is tyranny incarnate. To confuse the two is to engage in intellectual malpractice and to do grave harm to the health of civic society.

We should resist the temptation of easy labels and commit instead to rigorous, honest dialogue. Disagreement is not the enemy of democracy; dishonesty is.