It may be helpful to try to tease apart some components that are lumped together.
Propaganda: Always present, everywhere. It's an attempt to persuade. Part of human nature, and generally harmless.
Nationalism and patriotism: Again, almost ubiquitous to at least some extent. People instinctively have a "we" and a "them", usually on multiple levels, and country/nation is one level. Nobody wants to think their football team is below average, and even when it objectively is, there are things about it they love - logos, uniforms, ceremonies, kinship. Ditto religion, nation, etc.
Those things are always around us, and generally not too damaging.
It's when they mix with racism and/or harness the power of the state, or both. And once you buy into racism and nationalism - "we're the best, and they are the enemy who wants to destroy us" - fascism becomes a reasonable way to address this threat.
Look at all the Trump fans whose first adjective for him would be "strong" or "determined" or "successful". If you excuse what would normally be crimes because he "gets things done", you're halfway there and probably looking forward to the conclusion.