Fascism: Difference between revisions
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<blockquote>"Fascism, although in the early stages making a show of vague and patently disingenuous anti-capitalist propaganda to attract mass-support, is from the outset fostered, nourished, maintained and subsidized by the big bourgeoisie, by the big landlords, financiers and industrialists." —[[R. P. Dutt]], ''[[Fascism and Social Revolution]]''</blockquote> | <blockquote>"Fascism, although in the early stages making a show of vague and patently disingenuous anti-capitalist propaganda to attract mass-support, is from the outset fostered, nourished, maintained and subsidized by the big bourgeoisie, by the big landlords, financiers and industrialists." —[[R. P. Dutt]], ''[[Fascism and Social Revolution]]''</blockquote>{{Fascism sidebar}} | ||
'''Fascism''' is a [[Reaction|reactionary]] political movement which seeks the openly terroristic dictatorship of capital against [[Proletariat|working class]] and [[Socialism|socialist]] movements and the abolition of the [[Liberalism|liberal]] system of [[bourgeois democracy]] and its nominal freedoms while still preserving the [[Capitalism|capitalist]] system. The common characteristics of fascism include [[corporatism]], [[ultra-nationalism]], [[anti-communism]], [[militarism]], [[racism]], reactionism, and [[chauvinism]]. The most well-known forms of fascism in the 20th century include [[Nazism]], [[Italian fascism]], [[Shōwa statism]], [[Francoism]], and [[Salazarism]].<ref>Georgi Dimitrov (1935). ''[https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/dimitrov/works/1935/08_02.htm#s2 The Fascist Offensive and the Tasks of the Communist International in the Struggle of the Working Class against Fascism]''. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive. </ref> | '''Fascism''' is a [[Reaction|reactionary]] political movement which seeks the openly terroristic dictatorship of capital against [[Proletariat|working class]] and [[Socialism|socialist]] movements and the abolition of the [[Liberalism|liberal]] system of [[bourgeois democracy]] and its nominal freedoms while still preserving the [[Capitalism|capitalist]] system. The common characteristics of fascism include [[corporatism]], [[ultra-nationalism]], [[anti-communism]], [[militarism]], [[racism]], reactionism, and [[chauvinism]]. The most well-known forms of fascism in the 20th century include [[Nazism]], [[Italian fascism]], [[Shōwa statism]], [[Francoism]], and [[Salazarism]].<ref>Georgi Dimitrov (1935). ''[https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/dimitrov/works/1935/08_02.htm#s2 The Fascist Offensive and the Tasks of the Communist International in the Struggle of the Working Class against Fascism]''. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive. </ref> | ||
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=== Relationship to capitalism === | === Relationship to capitalism === | ||
Fascism is a method to regulate workers with a repressive state protecting the bourgeoisie and halting revolutionary proletarian movements. When the bourgeoisie can no longer suffice with liberal democracy, they become fascistic. As the [[Georgi Dimitro]]v, the [[Marxism–Leninism–Stalinism|Marxist–Leninist–Stalinist]] who was released from Nazi Germany because he exposed them so thoroughly, said, "The accession to power of fascism is not an ordinary succession of one bourgeois government by another, but a substitution of one state form of class domination of the bourgeoisie — bourgeois democracy — by another form — open terrorist dictatorship." | Fascism is a method to regulate workers with a repressive state protecting the bourgeoisie and halting revolutionary proletarian movements. When the bourgeoisie can no longer suffice with liberal democracy, they become fascistic. As the [[Georgi Dimitro]]v, the [[Marxism–Leninism–Stalinism|Marxist–Leninist–Stalinist]] who was released from Nazi Germany because he exposed them so thoroughly, said, "The accession to power of fascism is not an ordinary succession of one bourgeois government by another, but a substitution of one state form of class domination of the bourgeoisie — bourgeois democracy — by another form — open terrorist dictatorship." | ||
== Ideology == | == Ideology == | ||
=== Theory === | === Theory === | ||
Fascism is primarily a movement led by the [[bourgeoisie]] for the purposes of facilitating the maintenance and defense of the capitalist system against working class movements, and therefore lacks true ideological content or [[theory]], instead being purely [[practice]]. Any and all nominally ideological aspects of fascism are vacillating and constantly changing to meet the needs of the bourgeoisie:<ref name=":0">Rajani Palme Dutt (1934). [https://www.marxists.org/archive/dutt/1935/fascism-social-revolution-3.pdf#page=194 ''Fascism and Social Revolution'', Ch. IX "The Theory and Practice of Fascism", pp. 197.] Available on the Marxists Internet Archive. </ref> <blockquote>"The reality of Fascism is the violent attempt of decaying capitalism to defeat the proletarian revolution and forcibly arrest the growing contradictions of its whole development. All the rest is decoration and stage-play, whether conscious or unconscious, to cover and make presentable or attractive this basic reactionary aim, which cannot be openly stated without defeating its purpose." | Fascism is primarily a movement led by the [[bourgeoisie]] for the purposes of facilitating the maintenance and defense of the capitalist system against working class movements, and therefore lacks true ideological content or [[theory]], instead being purely [[practice]]. Any and all nominally ideological aspects of fascism are vacillating and constantly changing to meet the needs of the bourgeoisie:<ref name=":0">Rajani Palme Dutt (1934). [https://www.marxists.org/archive/dutt/1935/fascism-social-revolution-3.pdf#page=194 ''Fascism and Social Revolution'', Ch. IX "The Theory and Practice of Fascism", pp. 197.] Available on the Marxists Internet Archive. </ref> <blockquote>"The reality of Fascism is the violent attempt of decaying capitalism to defeat the proletarian revolution and forcibly arrest the growing contradictions of its whole development. All the rest is decoration and stage-play, whether conscious or unconscious, to cover and make presentable or attractive this basic reactionary aim, which cannot be openly stated without defeating its purpose." | ||
—R. Palme Dutt, ''Fascism and Social Revolution''</blockquote>Despite this, there are common aspects and beliefs within fascist movements which can be elaborated. | —R. Palme Dutt, ''Fascism and Social Revolution''</blockquote>Despite this, there are common aspects and beliefs within fascist movements which can be elaborated. | ||
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1981-052-06A, Albert Speer spricht in Munitionsfabrik.jpg|thumb|453x453px|A [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] official <!-- Albert Speer. -->performing a Roman salute, a common fascist gesture. ]] | |||
=== Class collaboration === | === Class collaboration === | ||
Fascists denies and attempts to obscure the presence and inherent nature of [[class struggle]] and exploitation between exploited and exploiting strata and introduces sentiments of class collaboration with the bourgeoisie. For instance, fascists have claimed that their state is "above" classes:<blockquote>"[...] Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State — a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values — interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people. No individuals or groups (political parties, cultural associations, economic unions, social classes) outside the State. Fascism is therefore opposed to Socialism to which unity within the State (which amalgamates classes into a single economic and ethical reality) is unknown, and which sees in history nothing but the class struggle." | Fascists denies and attempts to obscure the presence and inherent nature of [[class struggle]] and exploitation between exploited and exploiting strata and introduces sentiments of class collaboration with the bourgeoisie. For instance, fascists have claimed that their state is "above" classes:<blockquote>"[...] Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State — a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values — interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people. No individuals or groups (political parties, cultural associations, economic unions, social classes) outside the State. Fascism is therefore opposed to Socialism to which unity within the State (which amalgamates classes into a single economic and ethical reality) is unknown, and which sees in history nothing but the class struggle." | ||
Revision as of 21:28, 29 July 2024
"Fascism, although in the early stages making a show of vague and patently disingenuous anti-capitalist propaganda to attract mass-support, is from the outset fostered, nourished, maintained and subsidized by the big bourgeoisie, by the big landlords, financiers and industrialists." —R. P. Dutt, Fascism and Social Revolution
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Fascism is a reactionary political movement which seeks the openly terroristic dictatorship of capital against working class and socialist movements and the abolition of the liberal system of bourgeois democracy and its nominal freedoms while still preserving the capitalist system. The common characteristics of fascism include corporatism, ultra-nationalism, anti-communism, militarism, racism, reactionism, and chauvinism. The most well-known forms of fascism in the 20th century include Nazism, Italian fascism, Shōwa statism, Francoism, and Salazarism.[1]
After the defeat of fascist states in the Second World War largely by working class and anti-imperialist forces, the original fascist movements, along with other ultra-nationalist tendencies, developed into modern neo-fascism.
Analysis
Relationship to capitalism
Fascism is a method to regulate workers with a repressive state protecting the bourgeoisie and halting revolutionary proletarian movements. When the bourgeoisie can no longer suffice with liberal democracy, they become fascistic. As the Georgi Dimitrov, the Marxist–Leninist–Stalinist who was released from Nazi Germany because he exposed them so thoroughly, said, "The accession to power of fascism is not an ordinary succession of one bourgeois government by another, but a substitution of one state form of class domination of the bourgeoisie — bourgeois democracy — by another form — open terrorist dictatorship."
Ideology
Theory
Fascism is primarily a movement led by the bourgeoisie for the purposes of facilitating the maintenance and defense of the capitalist system against working class movements, and therefore lacks true ideological content or theory, instead being purely practice. Any and all nominally ideological aspects of fascism are vacillating and constantly changing to meet the needs of the bourgeoisie:[2]
"The reality of Fascism is the violent attempt of decaying capitalism to defeat the proletarian revolution and forcibly arrest the growing contradictions of its whole development. All the rest is decoration and stage-play, whether conscious or unconscious, to cover and make presentable or attractive this basic reactionary aim, which cannot be openly stated without defeating its purpose." —R. Palme Dutt, Fascism and Social Revolution
Despite this, there are common aspects and beliefs within fascist movements which can be elaborated.
Class collaboration
Fascists denies and attempts to obscure the presence and inherent nature of class struggle and exploitation between exploited and exploiting strata and introduces sentiments of class collaboration with the bourgeoisie. For instance, fascists have claimed that their state is "above" classes:
"[...] Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State — a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values — interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people. No individuals or groups (political parties, cultural associations, economic unions, social classes) outside the State. Fascism is therefore opposed to Socialism to which unity within the State (which amalgamates classes into a single economic and ethical reality) is unknown, and which sees in history nothing but the class struggle." —Benito Mussolini[3]
In reality, this is to hide the position of the fascist state as a totalitarian dictatorship of the bourgeoisie and an extreme expression of the monopoly capitalism.
Economics
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Militarism and war
"Fascism believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have the courage to meet it."
— Benito Mussolini, The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism
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National chauvinism and racism
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Palingenesis
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Deception towards the working class
Fascism presents its views in ambiguous, vague ways, often changing based on the circumstances. This aspect is inherent to fascism, because of its deceptive, anti-intellectual character and position as defenders of the ruling class.[2]
See also
Further reading
References
- ↑ Georgi Dimitrov (1935). The Fascist Offensive and the Tasks of the Communist International in the Struggle of the Working Class against Fascism. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rajani Palme Dutt (1934). Fascism and Social Revolution, Ch. IX "The Theory and Practice of Fascism", pp. 197. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive.
- ↑ Benito Mussolini (1932). "The Doctrine of Fascism".