Divide and Rule: How Fascist Regimes Manipulate and Control Their People
The Strategy of Division
At the heart of “divide and rule” lies the manipulation of identity and social divisions. Authoritarian regimes often identify existing fault lines within society—race, religion, ethnicity, class, political ideology—and deliberately widen them. The goal is simple: if the people are fighting among themselves, they are less likely to unite against the government.
1. Creating Fear and Distrust
Fascist leaders manufacture fear by presenting certain groups within society as scapegoats for social or economic problems. Immigrants, religious minorities, political activists, and marginalized communities are often blamed for crime, economic instability, and social decay. State-controlled media and propaganda reinforce these narratives, turning neighbors against one another. When people fear each other, they are less likely to trust collective action or question the true source of their hardships—the government itself.
2. Promoting Identity Politics
Fascist regimes emphasize identity over shared humanity. Citizens are encouraged to define themselves based on race, religion, or national origin. This breeds resentment and competition between different identity groups. When working-class citizens are encouraged to resent immigrants or ethnic minorities for “taking their jobs,” they are distracted from the fact that the regime’s economic policies are what created the problem in the first place.
3. Encouraging Sectarian Conflict
In many fascist and authoritarian states, the government will directly or indirectly support sectarian or inter-community violence. By allowing or even fueling clashes between different groups, the regime ensures that people are too busy fighting one another to focus on the failures and corruption of the leadership. The chaos justifies the need for “strong leadership” and an expanding security state, further consolidating power in the hands of the ruler.
Suppressing Basic Rights Through Division
Once society is divided and fractured, fascist regimes systematically deny basic rights and freedoms to ensure that people remain weak and dependent on the state. The suppression of political expression, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity is not accidental—it’s a deliberate tactic to maintain control.
1. Denial of Political Freedom
Expression and political activism are among the first casualties of a fascist regime. Independent media is taken over or shut down. Journalists who expose government corruption are arrested, exiled, or even killed. Protests are violently suppressed, and political opposition is criminalized. Political dissidents are labeled as “terrorists” or “traitors,” and laws are crafted to stifle free speech and assembly.
By removing platforms for political discourse and independent thought, the regime ensures that people cannot organize effectively to demand change. The average citizen becomes disillusioned and fearful of speaking out. Over time, apathy sets in, reinforcing the regime’s control.
2. Politicization of the Judiciary
A key pillar of authoritarian control is the capture of the judiciary. Fascist regimes work to undermine judicial independence by appointing loyalist judges who will rule in favor of the state. Courts are turned into instruments of political oppression rather than impartial bodies of justice. Political opponents are tried and imprisoned under fabricated charges, while corrupt officials and government loyalists are protected from prosecution.
By controlling the judiciary, authoritarian regimes remove the last line of defense against state overreach. Citizens lose trust in the legal system and have no means of seeking justice. This creates a chilling effect, discouraging dissent and reinforcing political submission.
3. Control Over Education
Education is a threat to any authoritarian regime because it fosters critical thinking and awareness. Fascist regimes typically undermine or manipulate educational systems to promote state propaganda. Curriculums are revised to emphasize nationalist ideology, historical revisionism, and loyalty to the state. Political indoctrination replaces real education, and teachers who resist are punished.
A poorly educated population is easier to manipulate and less capable of analyzing political events or organizing collective action. Without knowledge of their history or political systems, people become easy prey for state propaganda.
4. Undermining Economic Independence
Economic instability is another tool of control. Fascist regimes deliberately limit economic opportunities to keep the population focused on day-to-day survival. Jobs are scarce, inflation is high, and wealth is concentrated in the hands of a ruling elite. Economic resources are distributed not on merit or fairness but based on political loyalty.
By keeping people in a constant state of financial stress, the government ensures that they are too preoccupied with personal survival to question the broader political system. When people are forced to work long hours for low pay or rely on state welfare, they become politically vulnerable. The fear of losing a job or state benefits becomes a powerful incentive to remain obedient.
5. Restriction of Healthcare and Social Services
Access to healthcare is limited under authoritarian regimes because a healthy population is a politically active one. Fascist governments often cut funding to public health systems and push people into private care that few can afford. The poor and working-class suffer the most, left to deal with illness and disease with little support.
By making healthcare a privilege rather than a right, authoritarian regimes deepen social divisions and keep people dependent on the state for survival. Health insecurity weakens people’s ability to participate in political life and protests, ensuring that the regime remains unchallenged.
Maintaining the Illusion of Legitimacy
While fascist regimes use division and oppression to maintain power, they simultaneously create the illusion of legitimacy through staged elections, propaganda, and public spectacles. State-run media presents the leader as a figure of strength and stability, while dissenters are portrayed as enemies of the people.
Patriotic displays, military parades, and constant references to national greatness reinforce a sense of identity and loyalty. Any social failures are blamed on foreign enemies, internal traitors, or marginalized communities rather than the regime’s own corruption and mismanagement. The cycle of fear and division perpetuates itself.
The Long-Term Consequences
The “divide and rule” strategy leaves long-term scars on society. Even after the fall of a fascist regime, the divisions it creates—between ethnic groups, social classes, and political factions—can persist for generations. Democratic recovery becomes difficult because mistrust and resentment linger. Political institutions remain fragile, and the social fabric remains weak.
Moreover, the denial of education, healthcare, and economic opportunities has lasting effects on human capital. A society weakened by decades of neglect and repression takes years, if not decades, to rebuild. Political apathy and cynicism often prevent people from engaging in rebuilding democratic systems, leaving the door open for future authoritarianism.
Breaking the Cycle
The antidote to “divide and rule” is unity and awareness. Educating people about the mechanisms of division, encouraging solidarity across identity lines, and fostering political participation are key steps toward dismantling fascist structures. Access to independent media, civic education, and grassroots organization helps rebuild a society’s political consciousness.
Authoritarian regimes thrive on ignorance and division. The more people understand the strategies used to manipulate them, the more difficult it becomes for fascist regimes to maintain control. Unity, awareness, and collective action are the keys to dismantling the legacy of “divide and rule” and reclaiming democratic rights and freedoms.
Does any country come to your mind which is following exactly the same strategies mentioned here? Stay tuned for my next blog, where I will clearly outline how a specific country is taking advantage of these strategies to maintain its fascist and dictatorial rule over the people.
For more such blogs, go to my other blog site https://TheNationHasAwoken.com. I am more active on that site than this one.
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