Ideologies
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1920s, 1930s fascism was more of a movement than an ideology
Fascism derived from Italian fascio, which means "bundle", group, or
"union” ; Strength through Unity
Fascists despised intellectualism and ideology
Analysis of fascism as ideology has centered on historical actions of
fascist regimes
Theoretical Influences:
Irrationalism: rejection of the application of reason and science to social
problems and use myth, emotion,and hate as tool of manipulation
Social Darwinism: social theories viewing life as a
struggle for
survival (Herbert Spencer, Charles Darwin)
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It defied key principles of liberal democracy
a. individualism
b. competition
c. Quest for profit and material gain
d. Social divisions, fragmentations, and
particularisms (pluralism and cultural diversity)
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State is Supreme
Ideological Indoctrination of Masses
Single-Party State
Social Interventionism and Patriarchy
Personalized, charismatic Leadership
Military Expansionism
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Individual is insignificant; everyone’s needs are
subordinate to needs of the state
Central Motto: “Everything within the State,
Everything for the State, Nothing outside the
State.”
A New Society Needed to be fostered to create
Unity and Cooperation: “Believe; Obey; Work;
Fight.”
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Friedrich and Brzezinski list following criteria for Totalitarian State:
1. official, infallible ideology enjoying almost religious status
2. single party dominates regime, usually led by
a single man
3. monopoly on the means of mass
communication
4. terroristic policy force eradicating political dissent
through coercion and intimidation
5. state possesses a monopoly of the weapons of armed
combat
4. state control of major facets of economic life
Empirical examples: Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany
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Active indoctrination of masses with ideology is paramount
Ideology centers on nationalism and racism
Nation becomes identified with a Race
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Racial segregation in living, working, and breeding
Racial supremacy
Hitler “Mein Kampf”: Racial Purity is Iron Law of Nature
Anti-Semitism in Germany
Extreme (exclusive) Nationalism: stresses membership in a
group which is “closed” in terms of racial prerequisites
Membership denied based on genetic, historical, and cultural
reasons
Anti-Immigrant
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Characteristic of a single-party state (one-party system)
in which a single political party forms the government
and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for
election.
Oppositional forces are eliminated
Corporate state: government control over business and
labor
Italy: Nationalist Fascist Party (1922-1943)
Germany: National Socialist German Worker’s Party
(Nazi: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei)
Endorsement of social interventionism dedicated to influencing society to
promote the state's interests
f.ex. Creation of a "new man" and a "new civilization" as
part of
their intention to transform society.
Mussolini: “social revolution” for “remaking” the Italian people. Hitler:
aimed to purge Germany of non-Aryan influences on society and create a
pure Aryan race through eugenics.
Eugenics: belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human
species or a human population by means if controlling reproduction.
Negative Eugenics: discouraging reproduction by individuals who have
presumed defects or inheritable
Positive Eugenics: encouraging reproduction by individuals who are
believed to have inheritable desirable traits
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Fascism promotes principles of masculine heroism, militarism, and
discipline
Rejection of cultural pluralism and multiculturalism
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Fascist states revolve around a leader who is not
only a dictator but the symbolic representation
of the nation; the personal representative of the
race
People are moved by emotion, not reason
Hitler (1933-1945)
Franco (1939-1975)
Peron (1946-1955)
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State seeks to aggressively prove superiority and
strength of nation through military victories or
conquests
International Environment is harsh, and other
states and nations threaten the purity and
survival of the fascist state