Did We Politically Correct Ourselves Into Fascism?

It’s an uncomfortable question, but one worth asking: did our obsession with purity politics, call-outs, and performative righteousness help fertilize the ground for fascism? While it’s easy to blame Trump, DeSantis, or shadowy billionaire networks alone, the truth is more complicated. Authoritarian movements thrive not only on fear and resentment but also on fractures within their opposition. And lately, those fractures have been deep.

The Rise of the “Purity Test”

On the left, especially in online spaces, ideological purity tests have become common currency. A 2021 Pew Research study found that Democrats were significantly more likely than Republicans to view members of their own party negatively for disagreeing on social issues. Meanwhile, political scientists like Lilliana Mason (author of Uncivil Agreement) argue that Americans increasingly sort themselves not just by party, but by lifestyle and cultural identity, intensifying polarization and in-fighting.

In practice, this has meant a climate where someone can be branded problematic for liking the “wrong” music artist, failing to boycott a corporation, or not expressing outrage in exactly the right way. Instead of building broad coalitions, progressives often find themselves expelling potential allies for failing the test of total alignment.

Authoritarian Movements Feed on Division

While Democrats debated whether a rainbow on a Starbucks cup was “corporate pinkwashing,” the right consolidated power. Trump and DeSantis understood something many progressives forgot: winning requires unity. Their base does not demand ideological perfection—they demand loyalty to the cause.

Fascism historically feeds on alienation and resentment. Scholars like Ruth Ben-Ghiat (Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present) show how authoritarian leaders exploit culture wars to present themselves as defenders of “the people” against out-of-touch elites. When progressives publicly eat their own, it hands the right a gift: proof that the left is fractured, intolerant, and unable to lead.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

• 2022 Midterms: While Democrats over-performed expectations nationally, Republican governors like DeSantis dominated in Florida by winning over independents and disaffected Democrats, many of whom cited frustration with “culture wars” overshadowing kitchen-table issues.

• Youth Disillusionment: Despite Gen Z being the most progressive generation, Harvard’s 2023 youth poll found only 36% of young people believe politics today addresses their needs. Many feel scolded or sidelined rather than empowered.

• Independent Voters: Roughly 40% of Americans identify as independents, yet the left often frames politics as “you’re either with us in every way, or you’re the enemy.” That framing leaves millions unclaimed.

  
  

So—Did Political Correctness Cause Fascism?

Not entirely. Authoritarianism didn’t rise because progressives cared about equity, language, or justice. It rose because reactionary forces weaponized fear, resentment, and nostalgia for a whiter, more patriarchal America. But progressives did make it easier by splintering their own coalitions, alienating swing voters, and exhausting their base with constant internal policing.

Every time a working-class voter hears more about a comedian being canceled than about their rent, fascists win. Every time Democrats obsess over who’s “not pure enough” while Republicans ram through voter suppression laws, fascists win. Every time our focus shifts from power-building to purity contests, fascists win.

Where Do We Go From Here?

If we want to stop hemorrhaging votes and rights, we need to:

1. Build Big Tents: Coalitions that include imperfect allies are how Social Security, civil rights, and labor protections were won.

2. Refocus on Power: The right plays to win; the left too often plays to look righteous.

3. Fight the Real Enemy: Trump, DeSantis, and the billionaire class, not the person who worded a tweet clumsily.

Fascism thrives on division. If we keep handing it to them, we shouldn’t be surprised when they keep winning.