Fascism is a political ideology that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the establishment of a totalitarian one-party state. It exalts the nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. Fascisms extreme authoritarianism and nationalism often manifest as a belief in racial purity or a master race, usually blended with some variant of racism or discrimination against a demonized "Other," such as Jews. Fascists often advocate for the establishment of a dirigiste economy, with the principal goal of achieving autarky (national economic self-sufficiency) through economic interventionist policies.

Fascism originated in Italy in the early 20th century under the leadership of Benito Mussolini, who took the name of his party from the Latin word fasces, which referred to a bundle of elm or birch rods (usually containing an ax) used as a symbol of penal authority in ancient Rome. Although fascist parties and movements differed significantly from one another, they had many characteristics in common, including extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”), in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation.

Fascism is a complex and mutable political ideology that can be difficult to define. However, it is generally characterized by its emphasis on extreme nationalism, militarism, and the establishment of a totalitarian one-party state.