What is fascism?

Question

I came across the term when reading an A-Level History book my teacher gave me today, and did not understand it. Grateful for any answers!

Answer 1

The US is turning to Corporate Fascism.

Answer 2

The British Government is kind-of fascist. The Labour Party is a nationalist movement and adhere to the Fabian principles. As you can clearly see,their ideaology has failed us as a nation. Despite hugely unpopular decisions by government,they persist in pushing their ideas through parliament even using bribes to gain support for unpopular votes in Parliament. The first answer here is quite correct.

EMJAY-you are only half right. Pinochet was brought to power by the USA. Unlike the USA and Australia and Britain,the Afrikaaner did not embark on genocide. Apartheid was born because the King of the Zulus(Dingaan) murdered the heirarchy of the Afrikaaner people by tricking them to come to his seat with gifts so that they could have safe passage. The Afrikaaner never trusted the black man again and quite rightly so.You need to watch the documentary by John Pilger called "War on Democracy".

Answer 3

the way forward!

Answer 4

It's the teachings of fasc

Answer 5

a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

or

is a political system which commonly promotes statist nationalism

Answer 6

If you don't know what fascism is, then I hope you are not actually studying A-level history, if so that would be embarassing.

Answer 7

Fascism is generally the principles, organisation and views  of a dictatorial, nationalist and authoritarian movement or party. It is the system of extreme right wing ideas. A good example was Hitler's Germany or Mussolini's Italy.

Answer 8

When George W. Bush began making poignant references to what he termed “Islamic Fascists,” he shed more light on the nature of the ideology driving the neoconservative movement than he did on the ideology driving militant Islamic groups in various parts of the world--for reasons we will soon examine. Although the administration quickly dropped the use of the term “Islamic fascists,” other elements of the neoconservative movement have continued to utilize it. Now, as we are in the midst of what its right-wing architects are calling “Islamofascism Week,” it behooves us to ask, “Who are the fascists?”

If we consider the nature of fascism, we can see that the ideology driving the agenda Mr. Bush is pushing shares far more with the fascist movements of the 20th Century than any of the Islamic groups or states he and his political allies seek to condemn. Consider that one of the principal innovations of the fascist movement, introduced by Hitler in Mein Kampf, and perfected by his principal propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, was the “big lie.” The basic premise of this idea was that if one tells a big enough lie often enough and with adequate conviction, most people will hold it to be true, for the average person does not believe that anyone would have the audacity to lie so brazenly. Therefore, what is being alleged must be true.

Leaving aside the allegations of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a skillful use of the “big lie” technique, let us consider the allegation that so-called Islamic Fascism threatens Western Civilization. This is another big lie. The nature of this lie is revealed by the fact Ayman Zawahari, Usama Bin Laden, and the movements they lead were incapable of posing a significant threat to the Egyptian and Saudi states respectively. Zawahari’s Jihad group was ruthlessly crushed by the Egyptian government during the mid-1990s. Bin Laden’s challenge to the Saudi state in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War was similarly thwarted. Hence, both men eventually ended up in a cave in Afghanistan. The terrorist acts they orchestrated in Egypt and Saudi Arabia proved to be a nuisance, in a strategic sense. However, at no time did those acts constitute an existentialist threat to either state.

While terrorist acts perpetrated by what has come to be known as al-Qaeda may be disruptive, they could never pose a significant threat to the integrity of Western Civilization, neither politically, economically, nor socially. By way of illustration, it took less than two months for the stock markets to rebound to pre-September 11, 2001 levels in the aftermath of the attacks of that day. Today, five years after those attacks, American exports are higher, global trade levels, led by the United States, are higher, world tourism is up, domestic air travel, the sector hardest hit in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, has surpassed pre-9/11 levels, and legal immigration to the United States is as high as it has ever been.

Those attacks, which occurred under dubious circumstances that have yet to be thoroughly investigated, are unlikely to be replicated and did little lasting damage to this country. This illustrates the overblown threat of the “Islamic Fascist” enemy.

The question here is how could groups that were incapable of destabilizing two middling Third World states pose a mortal threat to the United States, the world’s sole superpower? Moreover, how could such groups ever pose an existentialist challenge to the whole of Western Civilization? The very allegation is so preposterous that we can only describe it as a “big lie.”

Closely associated with this lie is the allegation that Bin Laden, and now Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are comparable to Hitler and Stalin. Such an allegation is totally baseless. Both Hitler and Stalin presided over modern industrial states with strategic resources that rivaled and in many sectors surpassed those of Western Europe and even America. Hitler’s Germany was the most advanced state on earth, in terms of military technology. They were the first nation to employ militarily-viable ballistic missiles, the V-2 rocket; a jet-powered tactical fighter aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262, and at one point were months away from developing an atomic bomb. Stalin’s Soviet Union possessed the largest collection of conventional armed forces on earth, and would eventually preside over a nuclear arsenal of over 20,000 warheads, most of them aimed at the major industrial, military, and population centers of the United States. These warheads were situated on sophisticated land, sea, and air-based delivery systems that posed a significant threat to the survival of the United States and Western Europe.

As compared to the resources possessed by those states, the “Islamic Fascists” have nothing. Only one Muslim country, Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons, and that country’s handful of nuclear warheads is neutralized by India’s larger and more sophisticated nuclear arsenal, as well as Israel’s estimated 200-300 nuclear bombs. By all reasonable estimates, Iran is at least five years away from developing a nuclear bomb, and possesses no delivery system capable of reaching Western Europe, to say nothing of America. As for non-state “Islamic Fascists” they possess neither a nuclear weapon nor any delivery systems.

As far as the threat of a an agent of an “Islamic Fascist” organization or state getting his hand on a small nuclear devise and carrying it to the United States to be detonated, that threat is less credible than a rogue security operative affiliated with a western power getting his hand on such a devise. Such an eventuality itself is less credible than any random act of terrorism that may emanate from an unimaginable array of actors. As last year’s shootings in Montreal and a rash of school shooting sprees throughout the United States demonstrate, any stray lunatic is capable of engaging in unanticipated acts of terrorism at any time. That is a threat that we lived with before 9/11, and it is a threat we will have to continue to live with. If the billions of dollars we are spending on “homeland” security are not making us any safer from these threats then we need to take a hard look at how that money is being spent.

Another pertinent aspect of fascism is its glorification of the nation. This glorification of the nation by all fascist powers made fascistic governments vehemently opposed to all forces that ran counter to the ability of the nation to consolidate its control, both over the territory under its sway, and over the lives of individual citizens. Here the following statement, attributed to Mussolini, is extremely instructive, “The Italian nation is an organism having ends, life, and means of action superior to those of the separate individuals or groups of individuals which compose it.” Since its inception, fascism has been one of the greatest threats to individual liberties in the Western world. As we look at our shrinking civil liberties should we not see the shadow of fascism lurking over our lives and institutions?  

Does this description of a nation-state centric ideology more closely conform to the advocates of the Bush agenda, or the so-called “Islamic Fascists” who are advocates of a trans-national ideology that sees the nation-states as a western, neo-colonial innovation that has been imposed on the Muslim people via European colonization of Muslim lands? The answer should be quite clear. If anything, Islamic militancy, based on its stated goals, should be more closely associated with the anarchistic movements appearing in Europe beginning in the latter part of the 19th Century. Like many of today’s Islamic movements, those movements sought the eradication of the prevailing nation-state system, and the destruction of the institutions that support it. Hence, the ideological similarities between those movements and anarchism are far greater than the similarities between those movements and fascism. Why then are those Islamic movements being associated with fascism?

The answer is simple. If today’s Islamic movements were associated with anarchism, the antithesis of totalitarianism, it would be impossible to then draw a comparison between the leaders of those movements and the leaders of the totalitarian regimes that once posed a very real threat to the integrity of the West. Anarchism has no Hitler or Stalin to serve as its identifiable symbol. By drawing a link between Islamic movements and fascism, the symbolic leader of those movements, Bin Laden, in the eyes of the western public, can be linked to the symbolic leaders of the totalitarian menaces of the past century, Hitler and Stalin. Hence, evil can be given a tangible “face” which can serve as a symbolic representation of the totalitarian menace those movements allegedly embody.

This process of vilification and negative “branding” has been clearly illustrated in the campaign against Ahmadinejad. Although he is an elected official of limited tenure who lacks deep and lasting power in the Iranian political system, he has been transformed into a symbol of the evil Islamic enemy. All of the nuances and complexities of the Iranian political system, the various loci of political power within that system, and the movements representing opposition to it have all been glossed over by the stereotyped symbolism associated with a single individual.  

Another salient feature of fascism is that it is an ideology that elevates the national leader to the status of a symbolic representation of the nation itself. This aspect of fascism is captured brilliantly in a leading social science text:

At the head of the fascist elite is the leader –Il Duce in Italy or Der Fuehrer in Germany- in whose name everything is done, who is said to be “responsible” for all, but whose acts can nowhere be called into  

Answer 9

Fascism is putting the interests of yourself, your country etc before others.  nothing wrong with that, unfortunately things that have been done by fascists have give it a bad name, no worse though than communists, muslims etc,  there is nothing wrong with the ideology of it.

Answer 10

Fascism (with a capital F) is and remains the name given to the political movement which arose in Italy soon after the First World War and which claimed that it would deliver the country from Bolshevism. The only "Fascist" movement in world history was led by Mussolini. It is NOT the same things as n**i-ism although the two extremist doctrines did form an alliance in World War II. However in subsequent history certain politically motivated thinkers and propogandists individuals wrongly try to portray a range of other political ideologies as "Fascist" in the belief that it means any extreme right wing political ideology anywhere in the world.

There is a difference if talking about facsism with a small F,

which then means any thinking contended by some to be somewhat similar to that of Mussolini. It is rather similar to the difference between Conservative (with a capital C) and conservative (with a small c).

Answer 11

The basic idea of fascism comes from the fasces, the bundle of sticks that symbolized the state in ancient Rome, and served to represent the idea that the individual is weak, but the group is strong. This symbol is on the back of the US dime, and is represented in the motto "united we stand, divided we fall."

Most nationalistic credo has an element of fascism, which always seeks to increase the importance of the state.  In its extreme forms, all individuals are heavily involved with the state or with state supported or state sponsored entities.  

Since Germany and Italy were the self-denoted fascist states, we usually try to associate fascism with dictatorship and an aggressive expansionist policy based on exalted nationalism.

I would suggest that in its most fundamental connotation, fascism refers to nations that try to involve its citizens to the largest degree possible in activities that are state sponsored.

Answer 12

well,since its an a level i might as well tell ya. a levels are important...im a doctor.ok,here goes.Fascism is a term used to describe authoritarian nationalist political ideologies or mass movements that are concerned with notions of cultural decline or decadence and seek to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by exalting the nation or race, and promoting cults of unity, strength and purity. pleaesa give me best answer....

Answer 13

Fascism is considered to be the opposite of communism, but they are really two sides of the same coin socialism.

Individuals rights are sacrificed for community rights.

Best example today is the Democrat party agenda.

Answer 14

fascism is quite difficult to define completly, tends to be extremly nationalist and right wing, extremly authoritarian, will have a centralised autocratic government that would controll everything, thre would be little in the way of local governmenbt as that reduces central power. tends to have a dictator, for example hitler or mussolinni. the individual tends to mean little and the nation overall  is of utmost importance. race also tends to be imporatnt, that is tht the race of the person in power is superiour....also the biggest aspect of fascism is the fact it has to be born from social unrest, fascists tend to have little in the way of actuall policy and will nearly allways just say the bad things that are happening and promise change, without any ways to sort thm out, prays on the desperate. things like inflation, low employment, famine is likely to bring the fascists out.

the biggest problem is that fascism is quite a broad term and can be used to describe many different systems.

Answer 15

When someone sucks at fashion. That is fascism.

Answer 16

Evil , right wing ,racist people

hitler ,margret thatcher and bush are facists

Answer 17

The most simple explanation for the word I ever heard was that was intended to propose a midpoint between Nazism and Communism.

Answer 18

extreme right-wing (communism = extreme left wing) - in britain the Conservative party is right-wing and Labour is left - don't know about in america (don't know where you are!!)

Answer 19

Fascism is a term used to describe authoritarian nationalist political ideologies or mass movements that are concerned with notions of cultural decline or decadence and seek to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by exalting the nation or race, and promoting cults of unity, strength and purity

Answer 20

Fascism is a form of extreme right-wing ideology that celebrates the nation or the race as an organic community transcending all other loyalties. It emphasizes a myth of national or racial rebirth after a period of decline or destruction. To this end, fascism calls for a "spiritual revolution" against signs of moral decay such as individualism and materialism, and seeks to purge "alien" forces and groups that threaten the organic community. Fascism tends to celebrate masculinity, youth, mystical unity, and the regenerative power of violence. Often, but not always, it promotes racial superiority doctrines, ethnic persecution, imperialist expansion, and genocide. At the same time, fascists may embrace a form of internationalism based on either racial or ideological solidarity across national boundaries. Usually fascism espouses open male supremacy, though sometimes it may also promote female solidarity and new opportunities for women of the privileged nation or race

Answer 21

Fascism is an authoritarian, anti-demorcratic political ideology based around a small leadership group or individual, that places the good of the nation above the protection of the rights of an individual citizen.

This definition is why people worry about things like 42 day detention periods....

Answer 22

Fascism is a type of government with a dictator who has complete power and regulates everything. If anybody tries to oppose or criticize the system or the leader, the dictator will forcibly put that individual down. A fascist government often has a militant sense of nationalism, which is extreme patriotism. They think their country is number 1 to a point where they will aggressively or militarily try to prove that, either to other nations or even their own citizens. Another aspect that often comes with a fascist government is racism.

The best example of a fascist government is Hitler's Germany or Benito Mussolini's Italy before and during World War 2. Both dictators forced everybody to comply with the government. If somebody rebelled, Hitler put them into labor camps or killed them. The racism factor also played big in Hitler's fascist government. As he was anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish), he started the Holocaust.

On a side note, if you're at school and don't understand a word, hopefully you feel free to ask your teacher, too. :) I am a Government teacher myself and love those questions!

Answer 23

Fascism means someone who likes to take over, dominate other countries, etc. Like hilter he wanted control over europe

Answer 24

An example occurs when you sit in the pupil-chair and the teacher is at the front. If you are in any doubt of his teachings, then a question is asked. Should the answer fail to make sense, then the teacher is no longer a teacher.

Answer 25

The only answer that is close is the first, but it isn't very clear.  Many folks argue that communism is a form of fascism because Benito Mussolini, who is really credited with being the first true fascist leader, was a student of virtually all Marxist and Communist thinkers.  Stalin was even a big fan of Mussolini until Italy joined Germany during WWII.  

In any case, a fascist government is a government that basically pushes a specific ideology upon a nation and suppresses all alternate views and ideas.  For example, the Italian brand of fascism is actually a very socialist brand of fascism, in that it pushed many of the socialist ideas of government control  over resources and business in the name of the individual worker.  Nazism was very similar, but took shape as a more military dictatorship, but had similar ideals.  Some argue, very convincingly in my opinion, that far left members of our society are fascist in a more democratic model in that they attempt to very vigorously suppress any political or social views that are not in line with their ideology, hence demonstrated by the proposed "Fairness Doctrine" legislation introduced in Congress to suppress conservative talk-radio.  

Fascism is a very complex concept that is not fully agreed upon by many scholars, but suffice it to understand that it is typically seen as a political movement that suppresses free society in exchange for social order under a particular specific ideology.

EDIT:  I add now that Crystal above is on target.

Answer 26

Fascism is a dictatorial ideology and mass movement which extoled ultranationalism. This was founded by Benito Mussolini in Italy. A variant or variation was nazism, co-founded by Adolf Hitler, responsible for the WWII. Hitler was born in Austria but led his movement in Germany..

This last party is fully responsable for the holocaust, the murder of 6 mn jews in concentration camps.

Answer 27

simple:  the fascism was the best italy's age

Answer 28

This is an interesting question and many will argue as to the fine  definition of fascism. It is also complicated by the fact that there were four fascist governments in the 20th century.

1. n**i Germany. German National Socialism was a form of socialism, authoritarian and in many ways similar to Stalinism in Soviet Russia however the "people" central to the politik of Nazism were defined by ethnicity, i.e. "Aryan Germans" as opposed to class, i.e. the workers, as in the USSR etc.

2. Franco's Spain. Ultra-Nationalist, Castillian, Catholic and royalist- Franco ensured the Monarchy would "inherit" Spain.

3. Mussolini's original "fascism", based on symbology of the Roman Empire and taking the name of the "fasces", the Roman bundle of axes and rods that symbolised the power of a Roman magistrate, i.e. the State above the Individual. Mussolini was not concerned with ethnicism to such a great extent and indeed, many of the founders of the Italian fascist party were Jews- one can imagine their dismay when owing to n**i German pressure anti-Semitic laws were adopted in Italy in the very late 30's on the eve of war.

4. Japan. Japan is not usually described as being fascist during the war era however the ultra-nationalism, the use of Shinto and Japanese nationalist ideology, the total dedication to the "divine" Emperor Hirohito and the extreme racism of the Japanese to the "conquered", "We will be lords in Asia for 10,000 years" could all point to a form of Japanese fascism.

Other fascist-type governments could include.

1. Vichy France - a puppet regime of the n***s.

2. Apartheid South Africa- nationalist, authoritarian and racist,- not only to non-whites but pro-Afrikaner and thus displaying much of the ideology and ethos of n**i Germany short of a full on holocaust.

3. Pinochet's Chile.

4. Stressner's Paraguay.

As you can see "fascism" varies from country to country and culture to culture but there is always a thread of ultra-nationalism moving towards an absurd level of jingoism, i.e. the state over the individual, aggressive politics, and an extremely totalitarian and authoritarian state.

All states probably demonstrate a small degree of fascism in one or another as it is inevitable where one finds the existence of a state and in such every dictatorship, right wing government or any politics that seem to be on the far right are  accused of fascism on a regular basis. In my opinion, and it is only my opinion it is not a debate as to what fascism is, but rather "how" fascist a government may be. In more recent times Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, George Dubbya and Ahmenijad along with Sharon and even Berlusconi have all been accused of being fascists- I am sure you appreciate the irony In the same way any left wing politics are always accused of being communists and stalinists.

______

Hope that helps.

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" Samuel Johnson

Answer 29

First and foremost every fascist is a socialist, total state control is their aim, and that's where Europe is heading with Germany leading the way, they never will learn.

Answer 30

Fascism is a word used to describe authoritarian nationalist political ideologies or mass movements that are concerned with cultural decline or decadence and seek to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by exalting the nation or race, and promoting cults of unity, strength and purity.

Answer 31

Fascism is a military minded government that is not quite short of Hitlerism