BEFORE YOU WATCH: What is Fascism?

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.

Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.

By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:

Where does the word “fascism” comes from?
Why does the video argue that defining fascism as a form of political behavior is an important distinction?
What are some of the methods that fascists use to gain power?
Why was internationalism a threat to the fascist agenda?
Why is total war the only kind of war for fascists?
How are authoritarianism and populism different from fascism?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.

At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:

This video provides a comprehensive definition and three examples of fascism. Do you think you have encountered any examples earlier in this course which have anything in common with fascism?
How does the system of imperialism compare to fascist methods?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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