Fascism is a top-down ideology. It happens when capitalists feel that ordinary people are close to demanding a more equitable society, and they use it to divide society and assert their own authority. It is often described as a petit-bourgoise ideology because that is where the fascist capitalists find the most fertile ground - people who used to be able to afford a good life, but who can't anymore. Of course, the irony is that the reason they can't afford a good life is because the capitalists are siphoning off more and more of the wealth.

I think (the reason to what are you describing, and that I agree with) it's more to do with how in any democracy needs constant work from the people (not once evey few years a popularity contest) & how it's always, at all times naturally threatened by individuals seeking power. If you one too many times don't act in time you get an autocratic gov (that it might take a lot more than voting to defeat).

Basically oblivious demos vs the rich class radicalising political/pubic systems (deregulation etc) so serve their short-term financial gain.

I recently watched this NOVA bit about power struggles in Athens (something I knew about prob 30 years ago):
dailymotion.com/xa7xuec

not a bug, a feature