Public TV has two new programs on dictatorship that might be worth your time. One is by Rick Steves, a travel journalist who normally focuses on one country with information of value for tourists. In this 1-hour episode, he discusses the history of fascism in twentieth century Europe, with film and commentary on Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco. Other fascist regimes of that place and time are either glossed over quickly, or not mentioned at all. Stalin, for example, is not even mentioned, a glaring omission even if you concede his dictatorship was not, technically, fascist.
The PBS effort (“The Dictator’s Playbook”) is a bit more ambitious, it discusses dictatorships regardless of political ideology, and it covers six of them, one per episode: the Kims in Korea, Saddam in Iraq, Noriega in Panama, Franco in Spain, Amin in Uganda, and Mussolini in Italy. Their analysis dwells more on the political methods and ruling techniques of dictatorships, rather than their ideological characteristics. These examples are not limited to Europe or to fascist regimes.
What both these programs have in common is that they are clearly meant to be a warning of potential dictatorship in the United States, under Trump or some Trump clone. Although Trump is never mentioned by name, and no contemporary political events are referenced, the list of dictatorial tools examined in these episodes will be clear to any follower of USA politics. Among these are the targeting of a stressed or fearful population, scapegoating foreign enemies or cultures or domestic “backstabbing traitors”, an appeal to nationalistic, cultural or racial themes, militarism, violence, coercion and intimidation, a mastery of propaganda distributed through the latest technological media, distrust and diminution of the elites, academics and intellectuals, attacks on the mainstream press and critical journalism, and so on. The list goes on and on, we’ve talked about it here before.
Although current American political events are not specifically mentioned, it is obvious that the reality of the Trump administration is clearly what’s on the minds of the producers, and that this programming is aimed at Trump critics. His partisans will simply not see it the same way. All of these techniques are either in use by Trump or being developed by him. We don’t see gangs of Brownshirts roaming the streets beating up Communists yet, but clearly its on the horizon if Alt_Right and Confederate activity is any indicator. Even if you don’t agree with any of my analysis, the fact these sympathetic chords are vibrating in the minds of those who do should tell us something.
Personally, I don’t disagree with anything these programs are advocating—or implying. Yes, Trump and his followers are fascists and the US is now under attack by a slow but ruthless fascist ideology with all the classic techniques and methods. There is a slow-motion coup in progress even if it is far from imminent or coordinated. However, I do have my criticisms of both these shows and what they tell us between the lines. These shows are propaganda, and I detest propaganda even when I happen to fully agree with it. PBS has not assembled its usual careful and scholarly analyses designed to instruct, inform and educate us. They have thrown together persuasive but simplistic and even sensationalist narratives designed to motivate those who are on the fence, who might not otherwise care, or simply are not paying attention. They are pandering to people who don’t think things through. With the exception of not relying on outright lies and fabrications, they are using the same propaganda methods the fascists use. And they do not have the courage to identify who they are really attacking, which means that in some subtle way, they are also lying to us.
Its sad. When one of the American institutions I most trust and respect starts adopting the methods of political criminals, even for the most noble of motives, then I know a line has been crossed, one we may never be able to go back across. Just another brick in the wall.