fascism /(făsh"ĭz'm)/

fasc·ism

fascism

n.
  1. a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government; -- opposed to democracy and liberalism.
  2. an authoritarian system of government under absolute control of a single dictator, allowing no political opposition, forcibly suppressing dissent, and rigidly controlling most industrial and economic activities. Such regimes usually try to achieve popularity by a strongly nationalistic appeal, often mixed with racism.
  3. Specifically, the Fascist movement led by Benito Mussolini in Italy from 1922 to 1943.
  4. broadly, a tendency toward or support of a strongly authoritarian or dictatorial control of government or other organizations; -- often used pejoratively in this sense.