Fascism
From Conservapedia
Fascism is an totalitarian economic and political ideology that arose in early twentieth-century Europe and came to dominate the social and political systems of Italy under Benito Mussolini and Germany under Adolph Hitler. It was influential in Portugal as well, and had followers in most European countries. The last fascism regime, that of Francisco Franco in Spain, came to an end in 1975.
The name "fascism" derives from an ancient Roman symbol, the fasces, a group of birch rods bundled together with an axe. It symbolizes strength in unity; the rods are weak by themselves but strong when bundled together. Fascism is at the extreme right of the political spectrum. [1]
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Beliefs
Fascists believe that all actions should be done for the good of the state (rather than classical liberalism, which focuses on the good of the individual). It ignores or rejects Christianity. This definition expands to economic policy as well, with government and business working together for this end - this is called "corporatism." Modern "public-private partnerships" have their roots in corporatism, though they are not necessarily oppressive.
Characteristics of fascism include a belief that the state is more important than the individual; a leaning towards authoritarian government and centralized economic planning; an emphasis on nationalism and national traditions; militarism; information control and censorship; media propagation of the Great Leader which demonizes and trivializes his critics; and a rejection of both free enterprise and Social democracy in favor of corporatist economic policies.
Fascist regimes have often concentrated on a "scapegoat" to push their agendas, such as Nazi attack on the Jews after 1920.
The characteristics of fascism also include rampant cronyism and corruption, as well as rigged elections and a general disdain for human rights.[2]
Examples
The prototypical fascist regime was that of Benito Mussolini, who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. Other regimes which included corporatist elements are those of Francisco Franco in Spain (1936-1975) and Antonio Salazar in Portugal (1932-1968). German Nazism referred to government mandated corporatist entities as industrial cartels and added an obsession with race. Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek observed in the final stages of World War II, "the rise of fascism and Marxism was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of those tendencies. Yet it is significant that many of the leaders of these movements, from Mussolini down (and including Laval and Quisling) began as socialists and ended as fascists or Nazis. [3]
World War II Era
Fascism as an ideological theory was comprehensively discredited in the eyes of most Westerners because of the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II.
Modern Times
"Fascist" is today frequently used as a term of abuse both on the left and on the right against one's political opponents. While few people are willing to describe themselves as fascists or endorse the fascist regimes of the past, fascist parties and parties descended from fascist parties (such as the Alleanza Nazionale in Italy) continue to be a minor force in European politics. Fascism seems not to flourish in countries with an Anglo-centric heritage: America, Australia and Canada have never had significant fascist movements, and the British Union of Fascists was never an important force in British politics; though it was significant enough for the government to consider its leader, Sir Oswald Mosley, dangerous enough to intern during the war.
Of the Fascist movement, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. wrote:
| “ | The Fascists, for example, were not conservative in any very meaningful sense. They did not wish to preserve the existing order, or even to turn back the clock to some more stable century. They purposefully planned to transform the existing order into a new and all-absorbing authoritarianism, based upon the energies and frustrations of modern industrialism. The Fascists, in a meaningful sense, were revolutionaries. Yet their totalitarian ideal hardly fitted into the pattern of the Left, which had been the traditional home of greater freedoms and more generous aspirations. So, after boggling and uncertainty, they were assigned positions on the far Right. [4] | ” |
See Also
Further reading
- Eatwell, Roger. Fascism: A History. (1996). 432 pp.
- Laqueur, Walter. Fascism: Past, Present, Future. (1996). 245 pp.
- Payne, Stanley G. A History of Fascism, 1914-1945. U. of Wisconsin Press, 1995. 613 pp. the standard history, by a leading conservative historian
References
- ↑ George Lavan Weissman, FASCISM What It Is and How To Fight It,
- ↑ Dr. Lawrence Britt "Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20
- ↑ Friedrich A. Hayek, Road to Serfdom, Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 31 - 32.
- ↑ Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., New York Times Magazine, April 4, 1948. Not Right, Not Left, But a Vital Center
