Applying Petre Andrei's conception of fascism: "Ruscism", a contemporary fascism? Arguments and counterarguments
Applying Petre Andrei's conception of fascism: "Ruscism", a contemporary fascism? Arguments and counterarguments

Summary/Abstract: Most authors use the term Putinism to ideologically describe the current regime in Russia. However, the simple use of the leader's name by adding the suffix -ism does not have sufficient explanatory value. Therefore, we bring up the newer term Ruscism/Rashism and, without aiming to review the criteria proposed for fascism by various theorists, this article analyses the regime in Russia using Petre Andrei's Fascism as a grid for evaluation. At the same time, this approach is also an attempt to value Andrei's work, examining the extent to which his 1927 text on fascism can still be relevant, operational and useful almost a century after its publication. In the article we present seven of Andrei's key statements about fascism and examine the extent to which the regime in Russia corresponds to them. The article concludes that, although there are some distinct nuances due to geographical and temporal specificities, the regime in Russia has some obvious fascist-like characteristics, even if it presents itself as one fighting against Nazism. We can say that it is, in fact, a postmodern fascist regime in full assertion, and therefore the use of the term "Ruscism" seems appropriate.

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