How to Defeat Fascism in America
On this blog, I have repeatedly warned that “fascism is coming to the U.S.A.”
Today, America faces a new political reality, fascism has come to the U.S.A.
As a result, many individuals—particularly those who are vulnerable and possess the means and opportunity—have begun emigrating to well-established democracies.
For those of us who choose to stay and fight for America’s democracy, the path forward is clear. First, we must learn the lessons of history—how others have successfully resisted and defeated fascism. Then, both individually and collectively, we must take meaningful action to restore democracy in America.
Below is a summary of two important books—by Timothy Snyder and Gene Sharp, leading experts on authoritarianism—and two essays I have written on this urgent topic:
- What is fascism and has fascism replaced democracy in America?: Defend Democracy and the U.S. Constitution! Stand-up for Patriotism and the American Flag!
- How do we save democracy and defeat fascism?: When Democracies Die: It’s Time to Act
For the sake of your children and grandchildren, I urge you to spend a few moments reading the summaries below—and then take action!
Hayward Zwerling
2 June 2025
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder (Yale Historian)
1. Do not obey in advance
“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.”
ChatGPT summary: Authoritarian regimes thrive when people pre-emptively conform. Be conscious of your actions and question automatic compliance.
2. Defend institutions
“It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about—a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union—and take its side.”
ChatGPT summary: Institutions don’t protect themselves. Stand up for courts, the press, and universities when they are attacked.
3. Beware the one-party state
“The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. So support the multi-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. Vote in local and state elections while you can. Consider running for office.”
ChatGPT summary: Avoid complacency when a single political party dominates. Support electoral competition and democratic processes.
4. Take responsibility for the face of the world
“The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.”
ChatGPT summary: Small public gestures—signs, symbols, stickers—matter. They signal resistance and keep truth visible.
5. Remember professional ethics
“When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become more important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers, or to hold show trials without judges. Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor.”
ChatGPT summary: Professionals (doctors, lawyers, civil servants) must uphold ethical standards even when under pressure from an oppressive regime.
6. Be wary of paramilitaries
“When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come.”
ChatGPT summary: Watch for the rise of unofficial armed groups that are loyal to a leader rather than the rule of law.
7. Be reflective if you must be armed
“If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no”
ChatGPT summary: If you are in law enforcement or the military, remember your oath is to the Constitution, not to any individual leader.
8. Stand out
“Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.”
ChatGPT summary: When few resist, courage is contagious. Be the first to speak out.
9. Be kind to our language
“Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.”
ChatGPT summary: Avoid clichés and slogans. Use precise language and read widely to think independently.
10. Believe in truth
“To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights… Post-truth is pre-fascism”
ChatGPT summary: Authoritarians blur fact and fiction. Protect the integrity of evidence, journalism, and science.
11. Investigate
“Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism [e.g. ProPublica] by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on the internet is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate propaganda campaigns (some of which come from abroad e.g. The Guardian). Take responsibility for what you communicate with others.”
ChatGPT summary: Verify information and seek out trustworthy news sources. Democracy depends on informed citizens. Financially support investigative journalism.
12. Make eye contact and small talk
“This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society. It is also a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.”
ChatGPT summary: Human connection builds trust and solidarity in local communities.
13. Practice corporeal politics
“Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.”
ChatGPT summary: Get off your screen and into the street. Physical presence—at protests, meetings, and polls—matters.
14. Establish a private life
“Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have hooks.”
ChatGPT summary: Guard your privacy from government and corporate surveillance. Support independent civil society.
15. Contribute to good causes
“Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. Then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society and helps others to do good.”
ChatGPT summary: Support organizations that defend rights, provide truthful information, or serve vulnerable communities.
16. Learn from peers in other countries
“Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends in other countries. The present difficulties in the United States are an element of a larger trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.”
ChatGPT summary: Study how others have resisted tyranny. Global solidarity helps prepare for challenges.
17. Listen for dangerous words
“Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception. Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.”
ChatGPT summary: Be alert to rhetoric like “terrorism,” “extremism,” or “emergency” that can be used to justify authoritarian actions.
18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives
“Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. The sudden disaster that requires the end of checks and balances, the dissolution of opposition parties, the suspension of freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Do not fall for it.”
ChatGPT summary: Authoritarians exploit crises. Have a plan and don’t let fear override your values.
19. Be a patriot
“Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.”
ChatGPT summary: Patriotism means defending democratic ideals, not blind loyalty to leaders.
20. Be as courageous as you can
“If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.”
ChatGPT summary: Freedom requires bravery. Take risks to stand up for what is right.
“The Anti-Coup” by Gene Sharp (co-authored with Bruce Jenkins) is a strategic manual on how civilian-based resistance can be used to prevent or defeat coups d’état without resorting to violence. Below is a ChatGPT bullet-point summary of the key ideas:
Definition of a Coup:
- A coup d’état is the illegal and overt seizure of a state by the military or other elite group using force or threat of force.
Assumption of Coups:
- Coups rely on speed, surprise, and the perception of power to quickly seize key institutions and paralyze opposition.
- Successful coups depend not just on seizing power but on being accepted as the new authority.
Why Nonviolent Defense Works:
- Power is not monolithic; it depends on the cooperation and obedience of people and institutions.
- If this obedience is withdrawn—especially quickly and broadly—the coup can fail.
Strategic Noncooperation:
- Civilians, institutions, and government officials must refuse to recognize the authority of the coup leaders.
- Resistance must be disciplined, widespread, and nonviolent to deny the coup legitimacy and functionality.
Key Tactics:
- Immediate and open public refusal to obey illegal orders.
- Continued allegiance to the legitimate constitution or government.
- Disruption of administrative functions through noncooperation.
- Use of civil disobedience, labor strikes, and symbolic protests.
Preparation is Crucial:
- Anti-coup plans should be developed in advance, not improvised during a crisis.
- Democratic governments should train civil society and institutions in nonviolent resistance techniques.
Importance of Legitimacy and Unity:
- The anti-coup resistance must frame itself as the defender of legitimate, constitutional order.
- Broad societal consensus and commitment (protests with ≥3.5% of population) are key to resisting the psychological and practical power of the coup.
Success Factors:
- Speed of resistance response.
- Widespread refusal to cooperate with coup plotters.
- Internal fractures within coup forces (e.g., military defection).
- International non-recognition of coup regime.
Conclusion:
Civilian-based defense is a powerful, nonviolent strategy for confronting coups. It requires pre-planning, broad-based public commitment, and a strong attachment to constitutional norms. When executed effectively, it can defeat or deter even highly organized coups.
For a step-by-step guide how you can help to restore democracy in America, read: How to Defeat Fascism in America
The next major pro-democracy rally is, visit: Next Major Pro-Democracy Rally is…
Retirees want to work to preserve democracy in America, visit: Retirees For Democracy
Wake-up America! Fascism has come to the U.S.A.!