Since '16 I struggled to define "fascism"... now I think I have it, in one sentence.

[paulkienitz]

10. lots of systems are just someone clinging to power

Monarchists and communists and so on can fall into that mode of just perpetuating power for the sake of power. I don't think that distinguishes things like why fascist movements rise, or why they are always bitter enemies with communists who may be equally totalitarian.

I agree that fascism is not an ideology. In fact, I don't think conservatism is ideological either. They are both just driven by an emotional aversion to progress and change, and the wrong people having too much equality. The ideologies and philosophies are invented by pundits to justify and focus the emotions into debating points, but nobody cares about the integrity of the ideological points, they will cheerfully add and drop eternal principles as needed. Nobody is fascist or conservative because of a deep belief in some abstract principle, as is shown by the constant hypocrisy they indulge in when using their avowed principles to debate policy.

To me, the only difference between a mainstream conservative and a fascist is whether they still respect the rule of law and basic rights. Other than that, the motives and principles are the same.