Why the Russian Regime is not Fascist

Abstract

This chapter synthesizes the political niches inside state structures, the grassroots actors, and Russia's strategy of bolstering the European and U.S. far right into a broader discussion deconstructing the main theories of Russia's alleged fascism. It presents Timothy Snyder's argument in which he based his claim on historical analogies rather than on the advancement of a typology of fascism that would fit the current Russian regime. The chapter also demonstrates another aspect of the debate to be debunked following Russia's alleged fascism: the use of the concept of totalitarianism. The totalitarianism theory states that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that cannot be considered a higher degree of authoritarianism but is instead one of a kind. The chapter then shifts to discuss the Putin regime's missed core element of fascism: mass indoctrination and mobilization. Ultimately, the chapter identifies only one feature of a scholarly definition of fascism in the Russian regime: the militia subculture which is directly supported by state institution.