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Nazism

Definition

Nazism, also known as National Socialism, is an ideology and practice associated with the 20th-century German Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, which emphasizes extreme nationalism, racism, and the dictatorial assertion of state power over individual liberties. It sought to establish a unified and racially pure state through aggressive expansion and the extermination of perceived enemies.

Analogy

Imagine a sports team that believes it can only win by removing all other teams from the league based on arbitrary characteristics like the team colors or origins of their players, while also strictly controlling its own players' actions both on and off the field. Nazism aimed to create a "pure" national team by eliminating all others deemed unworthy or dangerous to its vision of unity and strength.

Related terms

Fascism: A political ideology that exalts nation and often race above the individual, emphasizing authoritarian leadership, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

Authoritarianism: A system of governance characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms where individuals are subjected to authority figures without much personal autonomy.

Genocide: The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation, with the aim of destroying that group entirely