The Dehumanization of Political Labels The starting point for any total breakdown is the shift from seeing opponents as "wrong" to seeing them as "evil." In the 1930s, the term was Volksfeinde (Enemy of the People). Today, terms like "Fascist," "Marxist," or "Threat to Democracy" are used to strip individuals of their status as fellow citizens, making it easier to justify bypassing the Constitution to stop them.

In the 1930s, the rhetoric used by the Nazi Party was centered on the concept of Gleichschaltung, or "coordination." This was the systematic process by which the state established total control over all aspects of society.

The "Othering" of Opponents: They didn't just disagree with political rivals; they labeled them "enemies of the state" (Volksfein ...