As far as political ideologies go, none are more universally reviled than fascism.
Although the movement was only in effect for a short while in a select few countries, it’s
repercussions are still felt to this day.
So, what exactly is fascism?
Essentially, fascism was born out of the idea that rational egalitarian democracies would
ultimately lead to severe crisis and weakness.
Around the late 1800s, a more irrational and emotional structure based on social Darwinism
began to overtake the idea that people should have equality.
Instead, fascism promised to create the rebirth of a new, stronger, and greater society, stripped
of all its weaknesses.
Some point to Italian writer and poet Gabriele D'Annunzio as the originator of this ideology.
During the 1930s and 40s, it saw significant influence.
First in Italy, then in Germany and Japan, although a large number of countries borrowed
the ideology around the same time.
In effect, fascism operates under a strict doctrine.
First off, it attempts to unify country under a single genetic banner.
Often this nationalism includes the concept of “racial” or “cultural” purity as
a method of weeding out weakness.
Hitler used this to paint Jews and other groups as not being part of a “pure Aryan race,"
and thus worthy of being eliminated.
Second, is the total control of society and people by the state, called totalitarianism.
Citizens are expected to have unwavering faith in a single party ruling elite, in nearly
all cases a dictator.
It is intended to directly oppose pluralism, which is the ability of multiple parties to
compete for power.
Economically, fascism seeks to solve the problems of materialist capitalism and Marxist socialism.
In practice, countries did this by promoting private enterprise, and handsomely rewarding
successful businessmen while abolishing unions.
However, the state would only allow businesses which served and promoted the national interest.
They also sought to ban foreign trade to avoid becoming dependent on any other country.
The end goal is to become fully self sufficient, and to be able to allocate significant resources
towards the military.
Fascism is also intensely supportive of violence to achieve political means.
That specifically includes removing “weak” people from the fascist state, either by executing
or deporting them.
All through strict social laws enforced by a violent police army.
In the 30s these were Hitler’s Brown Shirts and Mussolini’s Blackshirts.
Finally, as a social ideology, fascism promotes youth and revolution, with a particular focus
on strengthening desirable, and supposedly “moral” characteristics.
For example, in Fascist Italy homosexuality was seen as moral weakness and expressly forbidden,
along with pornography and prostitution.
In Nazi Germany, abortions were legal, and often compulsory in cases of deformity or
non-Aryan racial characteristics.
However for healthy Aryan babies, abortion was illegal.
Fascism is intended to craft a society to the ultimate ambitions of a single ruling
party.
As history has shown, this has promoted mass murder, eugenics, censorship, propaganda,
and severe inequality.
Some have said fascism defies the political spectrum entirely, and is neither left nor
right.
In the end, fascism is exactly what it sounds like: a nightmare.
Want to learn more about political theories?
Check out our full playlist including this one all about Socialism.
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