Fascism is a totalitarian ideology and political practice. Fascist leaders usually appealed to social grievances and emotions, and manipulated national pride, fears and prejudices. They took advantage of economic and social troubles, and promised quick solutions for those ailments and nation´s aggradizement to gain power.
Once in power they suppressed civic freedoms and rights, they supressed other parties and monopolized political representation, they mobilized the masses through party organizations , through co-optation. Rivals and dissent were crushed. Fascist parties took control of all branches of powers and destroyed the separation of powers and checks and balances. Their leaders built a monopoly of absolute power.
