Chapter 13
Fascism
Introduction
The word ‘fascist’ is often used as a word of abuse. Fascists are seen as people
who act in authoritarian ways and seek to impose their views and values on
others, but fascism is more complicated than this. First because fascism needs
to be more precisely defined, and second, the question arises as to whether
it is a movement of the past, or can it be said that fascist movements still exist
today? Everyone has heard of Hitler (1889–1945) but Hitler called his party the
National Socialist German Workers’ Party: can he still be called a fascist? Not
many movements have come to power since 1945 that can unambiguously be
called fascist – but can we describe movements in these terms when they do
not necessarily declare themselves in favour of Hitler or the founder of Italian
fascism, Mussolini?This chapter will explore these issues, and those listed below, in order to tackle
the questions: what is fascism; is it an ideology at all, and can a grasp of it
help us in understanding certain political movements in today’s world?Chapter map
In this chapter we will explore:- A definition of fascism – a task that is
clearly crucial if the question of
whether it is a general movement or
simply an Italian movement of the
inter-war period is to be tackled. - The development of fascism in Italy:
this was the particular movement that
gave the general movement its name. - The relationship of Nazism to fascism –
it will be argued that Hitler’s National
Socialism was an extreme form of
fascism. - The relationship of fascism to
capitalism and class. This not only
throws light on the relationship
between fascism and socialism but is
important if we are to explain the rise
of fascism.- The view taken by fascists towards
liberal ideas and the European
Enlightenment in order to gauge the
depth of the rejection of ‘reason’,
liberty and equality. - The fascist view of the state.
- Fascism today, the form that it takes,
and the conditions under which it is
likely to become increasingly
influential.