Unpacking loaded terms from the Interwar period

I get really explicit at the beginning of the unit that the words are used more casually in modern society, but that we are using them very specifically as historians to refer to a set of political practices that arose in the 1920's and 1930's and a political party in Germany during that time. I mention that although people often refer to fascism as a government that is overly controlling, fascism is, by definition a right-wing authoritarian movement, just like Stalinism is, by definition, a left-wing authoritarian movement.

Ideology is also our anchor term, so I hit hard after the What is Fascism video that fascism is more of a set of practices around gaining and consolidating power that reflects different ideologies to different audiences. I compare it to a virus as something that exists and can has an impact, but requires other cells (ideologies) to reproduce and spread.

I get really explicit at the beginning of the unit that the words are used more casually in modern society, but that we are using them very specifically as historians to refer to a set of political practices that arose in the 1920's and 1930's and a political party in Germany during that time. I mention that although people often refer to fascism as a government that is overly controlling, fascism is, by definition a right-wing authoritarian movement, just like Stalinism is, by definition, a left-wing authoritarian movement.

Ideology is also our anchor term, so I hit hard after the What is Fascism video that fascism is more of a set of practices around gaining and consolidating power that reflects different ideologies to different audiences. I compare it to a virus as something that exists and can has an impact, but requires other cells (ideologies) to reproduce and spread.