The BBC Tackles the F-Word

If you listen to enough talk about politics or world affairs today, you're likely to hear the word "fascist" thrown about pretty freely, usually as an insult. But what exactly does the term "fascist" mean? The BBC Magazine tackles that question this week in their piece "What is a Fascist?"

And the simple answer is, there is no simple answer...The BBC traces the term fascist back to its roots in early 20th Century Italian politics and its popular usage today, as traditional Fascism has become conflated with the ideas of Nazisim, authoritarianism, and racism. It all makes for an interesting read, one worthwhile for the next time you hear someone called a fascist.