Fascism – Resumenea

What is fascism

Fascism is a movement and political-social system of totalitarian, nationalist, militarist and anti-Marxist ideology that emerged in the 20th century in Italy, and spread to other countries. The word comes from Italian fasciowhich means ‘beam’ or ‘fasces’, symbol of this movement.

Fascism was founded by Benito Mussolini in 1921. As a political system, it was proposed as a third way against the communism and liberalism prevailing at the time. Its objective was to vindicate a corporate idea of society, based on the principles of homeland, order and tradition under the command of a charismatic leader.

This ideology had enormous political impact in the first half of the 20th century, and was established as a regime in countries such as Italy and Germany. It also inspired the Franco dictatorship in Spain, the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal and other authoritarian regimes.

In general, fascist regimes were characterized by having a charismatic leader, by their radical nationalist ideology, by the centralization of power and by forming military dictatorships, contrary to individual and collective freedoms. They were also characterized by outlawing any type of opposition, controlling the media, manipulating the educational system and having an effective propaganda apparatus at the service of the maximum leader.

Symbol of Italian fascism.

He symbol of fascism is known as fascio or fasces. It is a bundle of thirty rods and an axe, tied with a red ribbon. In Ancient Rome, this object was used by lictors, a type of public officials who escorted magistrates. Therefore, the fasces are a representation of strength, order and discipline.

Currently, the word fascism is often used pejoratively to designate authoritarian and antidemocratic attitudes or positions. However, although all fascism is authoritarian, not all authoritarianism is fascist.

Characteristics of fascism

Rejection of liberalism, democracy and socialism. Fascism aims to be a patriotic alternative to liberalism, democracy and socialism. On the one hand, it clashes with the individualism and plurality of liberalism and democracy. On the other hand, it disagrees with the Marxist concept of class struggle.
Radical nationalism. Everything is governed by the principle of homeland, patriotic duty and the restoration of tradition and national founding myths.
Personalism and charismatic leadership. Patriotic duty demands the presence of a charismatic leader who rallies the masses around the ultra-nationalist ideal.
Corporatism. Fascism conceives society as a whole articulated around the State. To do this, it establishes a single party and unified institutions that submit to it.
Propagandism. Fascism needs society mobilized in its favor. For this reason, it controls the media, manipulates the educational system and establishes an effective propaganda apparatus.
Militarism. Fascist politicians rely on military authorities as a mechanism of citizen control. Therefore, they militarize society.
Totalitarianism. Fascism intervenes in all areas of public and private life, policing the political and moral order alike.
Racism or xenophobia. Race is invoked as part of the principles of cultural unity or national identity.

You can delve deeper into: Characteristics of fascism

Origin of fascism

Fascism originated in Italy after the First World War. It was founded in 1921 by Benito Mussolinni, who came to power in 1922. From there, it exerted influence on the rest of Europe.

Between the causes of fascism The First World War, the triumph of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the break of liberalism are counted. The First World War resulted in the Treaty of Versailles, after which Italy was harmed in the distribution of territories and Germany was mercilessly punished. This exacerbated nationalism in both countries.

Communism in Russia, established since 1917, represented a threat due to the concept of class struggle, of international scope. Added to this was later discontent over the so-called Crisis of 1929, which fascists saw as proof of liberalism’s inability to respond to unemployment and shortages.

Declared as an ultra-nationalist ideology that sought unity and progress, fascism established militaristic single-party regimes. He exploited the population’s feelings of frustration through charismatic leadership and propaganda. At the same time, it instilled fear through violence and state repression. Finally, he developed expansionist and imperialist policies.

You may be interested in: Causes and consequences of the First World War

Consequences of fascism

Fascist regimes left a series of serious consequences in their wake. Among the most important we can mention:

Destruction of liberal and democratic institutions. Fascist leaders completely dismantled liberal and democratic institutions during their mandates, and promoted a reactionary and conservative ideology.
End of political and civil liberties. During fascist regimes, political freedoms were totally restricted, as were civil liberties, especially in certain ethnic groups.
Second World War. The exacerbated nationalism of Germany and Italy, as well as the imperialist vocation of their leaders, brought with it the start of the Second World War, which left millions dead and bankrupted the European economy.

Fascism in Italy

Fascism in Italy, where it emerged, was in power from 1922 until the end of the Second World War, in 1945. It was strongly nationalist and sought to establish state corporatism, with a dirigiste economy. It had its origins in Milan in 1919, when Benito Mussolini founded the Italian fascis di combattimento (Italian combat fascias).

Discover more in: Italian Fascism

Fascism in Germany

Fascism in Germany expressed itself with Nazism. The representative of German fascism was Adolf Hitler. He held power between 1933 and 1945, a period during which fascism spread throughout Europe, unleashing World War II. German fascism had a very exacerbated racist component. Its end was marked by the defeat of Germany against the Allied bloc.

Fascism in Spain

Fascism in Spain manifested itself through the Spanish Falange (Falangism) party, founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera. Later, Francisco Franco established a regime with fascist features after the fusion between Falangism and the so-called Traditionalist Communion.

Franco’s regime survived until 1975. However, since the end of the Second World War in 1945, the Franco dictatorship assumed a national-Catholic identity and began to differentiate itself from fascism itself, although without losing its authoritarianism.

Fascism in Portugal

In Portugal, Antonio Salazar promoted a dictatorial regime with fascist features during the period known as the New State. This regime remained in power until it was overthrown by the Carnation Revolution, which occurred on April 25, 1974.

Difference between fascism, authoritarianism and dictatorship

Fascism is considered a far-right ideological movement. Very often, it is confused with authoritarian regimes and right-wing dictatorships. However, fascism differs from other authoritarian regimes in several ways.

Regarding political mobilization: Fascism needs the mobilization of the masses around an ideology to sustain its legitimacy, and therefore requires a charismatic leader. That is, fascism feeds on the adhesion and fanaticism of the masses around the leader. On the other hand, authoritarian regimes or common dictatorships prefer that society be demobilized and individualized.

Regarding private life and institutional autonomy: All institutions perform political intermediation functions. This includes churches, academic institutions, associations, economic groups, and even the family. On the other hand, authoritarian regimes or dictatorships are not interested in controlling private life.

Regarding the economic intervention of the State: Fascism intervenes directly and openly in the national economy, reorienting economic practices to its ideological purposes. On the other hand, authoritarian regimes or dictatorships intervene little in the economy.

See:

Difference between fascism and communism

The values, ideology and purposes of fascism and communism are very different, although in practice, both promote the single party and are anti-pluralist and anti-liberal. To better understand what fascism is, we will point out three differences with communism.

Regarding his ideological discourse: Fascism appeals to the restoration of tradition and the founding myths of the nation, since it sees them as guarantors of order. Communism wants to create a new society and a new man. Therefore, it is proposed as a revolution.

Regarding its scope: Fascism is an extreme nationalist movement, which calls on all “nationals”, regardless of the social classes to which they belong, to redeem the nation. In contrast, communism is based on the Marxist principle of class struggle and is therefore internationalist.

Regarding the hierarchy of power: Fascism openly defends the descending vertical hierarchy. The line of command comes from the charismatic leader. In communism, power is centralized in the governing party which, in theory, reflects the interests of the proletariat (unions, cooperatives, communal councils, etc.).