21 - Fascism

Question 1

Fascism: why should we care?

Answer 1

“Fascism was the major political innovation of the 20th century, and the source of much of its pain”

-Robert Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism

Question 2

Historical origins

Answer 2

• Ancient Rome, “Faces”: symbol of social unity under political leadership
• Sticks in the bundle are people – wraps in the bundle are the state and the axe is the leader and military

Question 3

Modern origins

Answer 3

• Early twentieth century in Italy
• Milan, spring 1919: Violence, murder
• Attack on socialism and the rule of law in the name of the nation

Question 4

Background ideas

Answer 4

• Counter-enlightenment
• Nationalism
• Elitism (anti-elitism?)
• Irrationalism

Question 5

Some features of fascism

Answer 5

• Totalitarianism
• Reactionary
• Cult of leadership
• Mass mobilization through monopolistic political party (state party)
• Destroy intermediate organizations (trade unions, etc.)
• Abolition of privacy (surveillance)
• Rule of law replaced by arbitrary violence (leader)

Question 6

Mussolini’s fascism

Answer 6

• National unity
• Liberalism ‘no’ obedience ‘yes’
• Celebration of war and violence
• Individual sacrifice and state worship

Question 7

Hitler’s nazism

Answer 7

• Two explanations of Hitler’s rise to power
  1) Economic
  2) Charismatic
• Resentment about the end of WWI
• German people (‘volk’) must defeat Jews, communists, and liberals who promote ideas of universal brotherhood
• Need a strong, dominant leader (‘Fuhrerprinzip’)
• Nationalism
• Lebensraum (living space)
• Social Darwinism – master race
• Racism and anti-Semitism

Question 8

Paxton: key themes

Answer 8

• Sense of crisis needing radical solution
• Subordination of individuals to the group
• One’s group is a victim whose enemies must be attacked
• Fear of liberalism, class conflict, and other alien forces
• Promote community integration by violence if necessary
• Need for authority by a natural male leader
• Superiority of leader’s instincts over abstract and universal reason
• Celebration of violence and will, when devoted to the group’s success
• Right for chosen people to dominate others without constraint