Fascism is almost reflexively described as a “right-wing” ideology. The label is repeated so often that it has come to feel settled, unquestioned, and morally convenient. But is it actually correct?
In this episode, I argue that this common classification rests on a fundamental category error. Fascism is not an ideology of the Right, properly understood, but a form of totalitarianism defined by the concentration of state power and the subordination of the individual to it. Far from arising out of an excess of liberty, fascism emerges when liberty collapses and the state becomes supreme.
This is not an attempt to smear political opponents or relitigate partisan battles. It is an exercise in conceptual honesty. By examining the left-right political spectrum, the nature of centralized authority, and the shared structural features of fascism and communism, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how political ideologies are labeled—and why accuracy matters.
Mislabeling fascism does more than distort history. It corrodes the language needed to defend a free and equal society grounded in ordered liberty, restrained power, and the rule of law.
