Dangerous Flirtation with Fascism
A Follow-Up to Our Recent Post on Resisting Right-Wing Attacks on Academic Freedom by Jonathan Westover, one of our UVU colleagues Utah House Bill 261 and the Dangerous Flirtation with Fascism As an educator committed to advancing justice, equality, and truth, recent political events and legislation have given me grave concern. Utah House Bill 261 is the latest in a string of legislation in many states across the country that dangerously flirt with fascist tendencies to shut down open inquiry and debate. While supporters claim the goal is to reduce controversy and promote unity, the bill's vague language and underlying assumptions threaten core academic values. Defining Fascism and Its Threats to Education Scholars generally agree fascism is an extreme nationalist, authoritarian political ideology characterized by forcible suppression of opposition. A key fascist tactic is controlling information flow and censoring ideas that criticize or question the political status quo