“Where fascist policies are not just justified, but absolutely required …”

“40K, especially the Imperium of Man, is a fascinating universe in part because it accomplishes something that can only be done when you play some of these tropes perfectly straight. It constructs an Alternate Universe where fascist policies are not just justified, but absolutely required for mere survival. As someone else put it, ‘if you let me put my thumb on the utilitarian scales, I can get you to agree that you have an affirmative moral duty to torture a three-year-old child to death.‘ Indeed.”

From the former Introduction to the Warhammre 40.000 Article on TV Tropes. The last part of the Quote is by Belle Waring from 2004 Blog Post “By The Power of Stipulation: I Have The Power!“.