Fascism's success almost always depends on the cooperation of the losers during a time of economic and technological change. The lower-middle classes-the people who have just enough to fear losing it-are the electoral shock troops of fascism {Richard Hofstadter identified this status anxiety as the source of Progressivism's quasi-fascist nature}. Populist appeals to resentment against fat cats, international bankers, economic royalists, and so on are the stock-in-trade of fascist demagogues.
Fascism often thrives due to the support of those who are economically insecure, particularly the lower-middle classes. These individuals fear losing their modest means and are more likely to align with fascist movements. Richard Hofstadter pointed out that this sense of status anxiety similarly fuels the quasi-fascist elements of Progressivism, revealing the underlying social dynamics at play.
Demagogues capitalize on widespread resentment against wealthy elites, such as powerful bankers and economic aristocrats. They leverage populist rhetoric that resonates with the frustrations of ordinary people, positioning themselves as champions of the common man against perceived threats to their stability. This pattern reveals a consistent trend where economic and technological shifts give rise to fascism, driven by a coalition of the disaffected and populist leaders.
