This is my fault. I’m scrolling through Tumblr instead of writing, and this is why stuff like this keeps showing up on my screen. “Fascism” is the new buzzword of the moment. Kids who spend their entire existence on TikTok throw it around without really understanding what it means. So here I am to explain what your favorite TikToker isn’t telling you.
Being a jerk is not the same thing as being a fascist. Being a bully is not the same thing as being a fascist. Not agreeing with your opinion is not the same thing as being fascist. I’ll be the first to admit James Potter was a jerk, but I’ll also remind you that he was a teenager, and teenagers are dumb. I could go into the ins and outs of a developing brain to prove that point, but I won’t. Instead, let’s focus on the word itself.
Fascism is a political ideology with very specific traits:
- Ultranationalism: Extreme devotion to a specific nation or ethnic group, often accompanied by xenophobia (like when the Nazis promoted the supposed superiority of the Aryan race.)
- Militarism: Glorification of war and violence as a means to achieve national goal (like in Imperial Japan, where citizens were taught to die for the Emperor to push territorial expansion.)
- Authoritarian Leadership: Rejection of democracy in favor of one leader or a small ruling elite controlling the country.
- Suppression of Dissent: Silencing or punishing anyone who disagrees with the ruling power through censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, or even execution.
- Mythic Past: Idealizing a “pure” historical era and promising to recreate it.
- State-Controlled Economy: The government owns or heavily regulates most companies and directs the economy toward its own goals.
Now, let’s look at James Potter shall we?
- Ultranationalism: James never expressed extreme nationalist views or ethnic superiority. He didn’t bully Snape for being a half-blood, in fact, he defended Lily when she was called a “mudblood" by Snape. His issues with Snape were personal, rooted in academic rivalry and jealousy over Lily’s friendship. And let’s be honest: if we’re talking about blood purity obsession, that’s Slytherin House territory. There is no racism here. James didn't think he was superior, he acted like a superior because of a hurt ego.
- Militarism: At what point did James ever glorify war? When he graduated, he joined a secret resistance to end the war. He wasn’t trying to convince people to fight for a pure race or expand his own power. That’s Voldemort’s job description.
- Authoritarianism: James wasn’t trying to run Hogwarts, the wizarding world, or anything else. He and Sirius led the Marauders, a group of pranksters, but that’s social mischief, not political power. Fred and George Weasley actually outdid the Marauders in pranks, and no one calls them fascists (even though they also bullied Slytherins). Because they weren't. They were self centered jerks. That's not a war crime.
- Suppression of Dissent: James had no power to censor anyone or crush political opposition. He was just a kid being immature. That’s bad behavior, not state repression.
- Mythic Past: Again: No. James wasn’t trying to restore a “golden age of magic” or create propaganda campaigns. He was open-minded about integrating Muggle-borns into society, the opposite of fascist ultranationalism in the wizarding world.
- Economic Control: Yes, James was wealthy and he did rub it on Vernon Dursley's nose, but that’s not the same as controlling other people’s money or the economy. He didn't go about deciding how people should spend their money or limitating bank transactions for petty reasons.
James’s worst behavior at Hogwarts (bullying, hexing Snape for fun) came from being privileged, competitive, and immature. That makes him a rich, spoiled teenager who sometimes used his popularity to push others around. That’s personal dominance, not an ideological movement.
Being a jerk is about ego, insecurity, and social dynamics. Being a fascist is about imposing a rigid, nationalist, authoritarian system on society. James was an annoying, immature jerk who took longer to grow out of that phase than he should have, the product of elderly parents who spoiled him rotten not a fascist bent on climbing the ranks to dominate the world.
So, before posting something like this that uses big ass words you don't know the meaning maybe take a minute to do some research first so you don’t end up spreading nonsense.
