Fascism
Philosophy: The state must gain glory through constant conquest and war. The past was glorious, and that the State can be renewed. The individual has no value outside of his or her role in promoting the glory of the State. Philosophies varied by country.
Key Elements: Actual idealism, centralized government, social Darwinism, planned economy, anti-democratic, meritocratic, extreme nationalism, militarism, racism (Nazism). Traditional and/or exaggerated gender roles. One party system.
Political System: One charismatic leader has absolute authority. Often the symbol of the state. Advisers to Government are generally picked by merit rather than election. Cronyism common.
Definition: An extremely nationalistic, authoritarian state usually led by one person at the head of one party. No democratic election of representatives. No free market. No individualism or individual glory. The State controls of the press and all other media.
Social Structure: Strict class structure believed necessary to prevent chaos (Italian Fascist). All class distinctions are eliminated (German Nazi). Nazism believes in a “superior” race. Italian Fascism was not racist in doctrine originally.
Religion: Fascism is a civic religion: citizens worship the state through nationalism. The state only supports religious organizations that are nationally/historically tied to that state; e.g., the Iron Guard in Romania supported the Romanian Orthodox church.
Economic Coordination: Businesses are nominally privately owned; the State dictates outputs and investments. Planning is based on projected labor output rather than money.
Free Choice: The individual is considered meaningless; they must submit to the decisions of the leadership. Traditional gender roles are upheld and/or exaggerated.
Ownership Structure: The means of production are nominally privately owned but directed by the State. Private ownership of business is contingent upon submission to the direction and interests of the State.
Discrimination: Belief in one superior race (Nazism). Belief in a superior nation (Fascism & Nazism). Gender (F & N). Mental or physical handicaps. Mental illness. Alcoholics. Homosexuals. Roma. Jews (Nazi). Ideological and political opposition, trade unions (F&N).
Way of Change: Government in a fascist state is the agent of change rather than any market or desire on the part of consumers. Change by government can be swift or slow, depending on a change in labor output or even at the whim of the dictator.
Economic System: Autarky (national self-sufficiency). Large public works, deficit spending. Anti trade union and syndicalism. Strongly against international financial markets and usury.
Fascism (
/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of radical
authoritarian ultranationalism,
[1][2] characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and control of industry and commerce,
[3] which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.
[4] The first fascist movements
emerged in Italy during
World War I before
it spread to other European countries.
[4] Opposed to liberalism,
Marxism and
anarchism, fascism is usually placed on the
far-right within the traditional
left–right spectrum.
[5][6][7][4][8][9]