Fascism emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single powerful leader over the individual citizen. It originated in early 20th century Italy, with Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Party, and quickly spread to other countries, including Nazi Germany, Francoist Spain, and Imperial Japan.
Historian Stanley G. Payne focuses on three concepts to describe Fascism
- Fascism is anti-liberalism, anti-communism and anti-conservatism.
- The goals of fascism are the creation of a nationalistic dictatorship that will regulate economy and structure social relations within a modern, self-determined culture to transform a nation into an empire.
- Fascism gathers support through romantic symbolism, mass mobilization, a positive view of violence and the promotion of authoritarian leadership.
Features of Fascism
- Authoritarianism: Fascist regimes are characterized by a strong, centralized government with a powerful leader who holds ultimate authority and exercises it without regard for constitutional limitations or democratic norms.
- Nationalism: Fascism often promotes a sense of national unity and pride, often through the use of symbols, slogans, and propaganda that appeal to people’s emotions and emphasize the importance of the nation over the individual.
- Militarism: Fascist regimes tend to emphasize the importance of military power and might, often using military force to expand or defend the nation.
- Totalitarianism: Fascist regimes often seek to control all aspects of society, including the economy, the media, education, and the arts, in order to shape public opinion and maintain their grip on power.
- Autarchy: Autarchy means having economic independence as a national policy. Elimination of unemployment would be possible once a country is economically self-sufficient as all production would be done within the country. If all economic production is taking place within the country then the country is utilizing its full potential to provide employment to every citizen. The focus is on reducing Imports and promoting exports so the country is able to provide for its own needs. Thus. economic self-sufficiency of the nation was stressed and to achieve this- the complete control of the State over the market and the economy was advocated.
- Racism and Xenophobia: Fascist regimes often promote a belief in the superiority of one particular race or ethnic group and are often hostile to immigrants or other minority groups.
- Anti-communism: Fascism often sees communism as a threat to national stability and will often use anti-communist rhetoric to justify their actions.
Types of Fascism
- Italian Fascism: The original form of fascism that emerged in Italy under Benito Mussolini in the early 20th century, which emphasized nationalism, militarism, and a strong centralized government led by a charismatic leader.
- National Socialism (Nazism): A specific form of fascism that developed in Germany under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, which added elements of racism, anti-Semitism, and the belief in the superiority of the Aryan race to the standard fascist ideology.
- Falangism: A form of fascism that developed in Spain under Francisco Franco, which emphasized nationalism, militarism, and anti-communism, but also included elements of Catholicism and traditionalism.
- Clerical Fascism: A form of fascism that developed in some Catholic countries such as Italy and Croatia, which emphasized the importance of the Catholic Church and its values in society.
- Neo-Fascism: A more contemporary form of fascism that has emerged since World War II, which often emphasizes populist and anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as a rejection of multiculturalism and globalism.
Consequences of Fascism
- Human rights abuses: Fascist regimes are often characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including the suppression of free speech, the persecution of political opponents, and the targeting of minority groups for discrimination and violence.
- War and Conflict: Fascist regimes often pursue aggressive foreign policies that can lead to war and conflict, as well as the imposition of economic sanctions and other forms of international isolation.
- Economic instability: Fascist regimes often prioritize military spending and the expansion of the state at the expense of economic stability, which can lead to inflation, shortages, and other forms of economic instability
- Destruction of cultural heritage: Fascist regimes often seek to suppress or destroy cultural heritage that does not conform to their narrow worldview, leading to the loss of important historical and artistic artifacts.
- Loss of democratic institutions: Fascist regimes typically reject democratic norms and institutions, leading to the loss of important checks and balances on the power of the state and the concentration of power in the hands of a small group of elites.
- Human suffering and death: Fascism has been responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human history, including the Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews and others during World War II.
