Fascism is a political philosophy that advocates dictatorial government and glorifies a particular nation or race. A fascist system encourages strong ties between the government and the nation’s business community, and values the needs of the nation over those of the individual. It asserts that the individual must submit to the absolute control of the state and its leaders. Fascist states tend to glorify war, conquest, and other martial virtues. They are generally governed by strong, charismatic dictators who, in order to maintain their power, rely on the police and military. Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, and Franco in Spain were all leaders of 20th-century fascist regimes.
