the original fascist
dictionary definition: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Italian 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
Benito Mussolini was the first person to use the word, but for some reason when people in the US want to call someone a "fascist", they always compare their object to Hitler.
Mussolini was the dictator of Italy for 21 years [longer than Hitler was in power], after 8 years of fascist political-outsider activism, first as a pro-war activist in 1914 trying to get Italy to join WWI to acquire lands from the Central Powers where residents spoke Italian.
His pro-war activism got him kicked out of the Italian Socialist Party, where he had previously held a position of some rank. [You may recall my mentioning that WWI destroyed the Socialist movements in Europe, as Nationalism became far more popular than Internationalism.]
After removing all political opposition through his secret police and outlawing labour strikes, Mussolini and his followers consolidated power through a series of laws that transformed the nation into a one-party dictatorship.
So the founder of the fascist movement was pro-war, nationalist, anti-democratic, anti-labor. Also expansionist, as he tried to conquer some African colonies.
In rejecting the class warfare of the socialists for nationalism he wrote: "the nation is a history of sentiments, traditions, language, culture, and race"
Mussolini believed in national/racial superiority and keeping a class structure. But he had an affair with a prominent Jewish woman fascist, showing that anti-semitism is not definitional to original fascism.
He was never elected to office, instead appointed by the King of Italy after pro-fascist protests drove the elected liberal Prime Minister from office. After a few years he dismantled democracy in Italy and ruled solely at the pleasure of the King. He outlawed all political parties other than his own.
He was not in favor of free markets, he essentially seized most large private businesses and taxed the hell out of the rest at 85%. He enacted price controls. He believed that only the state could manage a stable economy. He believed in national self-sufficiency rather than international trade.
He promoted a cult of personality in which propaganda, public works, and prestige projects bolstered his image and that of Italy. He portrayed himself as an intellectual.
And he was an avowed atheist who attacked Christianity and the Catholic Church. But he was not an anti-semite and supported the existence of Jews in Italy for most of his reign. He only turned against them under pressure from his new ally Hitler as WWII drew near.
Unfortunately for Mussolini and Italy, joining with Hitler was the wrong move. They ultimately lost, and Mussolini was executed by a communist.
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Originally I'd written this post to compare and contrast fascism with modern-day US Republicans, but I'm tired of writing about current US politics. But I saved the historical part.
Benito Mussolini was the first person to use the word, but for some reason when people in the US want to call someone a "fascist", they always compare their object to Hitler.
Mussolini was the dictator of Italy for 21 years [longer than Hitler was in power], after 8 years of fascist political-outsider activism, first as a pro-war activist in 1914 trying to get Italy to join WWI to acquire lands from the Central Powers where residents spoke Italian.
His pro-war activism got him kicked out of the Italian Socialist Party, where he had previously held a position of some rank. [You may recall my mentioning that WWI destroyed the Socialist movements in Europe, as Nationalism became far more popular than Internationalism.]
After removing all political opposition through his secret police and outlawing labour strikes, Mussolini and his followers consolidated power through a series of laws that transformed the nation into a one-party dictatorship.
So the founder of the fascist movement was pro-war, nationalist, anti-democratic, anti-labor. Also expansionist, as he tried to conquer some African colonies.
In rejecting the class warfare of the socialists for nationalism he wrote: "the nation is a history of sentiments, traditions, language, culture, and race"
Mussolini believed in national/racial superiority and keeping a class structure. But he had an affair with a prominent Jewish woman fascist, showing that anti-semitism is not definitional to original fascism.
He was never elected to office, instead appointed by the King of Italy after pro-fascist protests drove the elected liberal Prime Minister from office. After a few years he dismantled democracy in Italy and ruled solely at the pleasure of the King. He outlawed all political parties other than his own.
He was not in favor of free markets, he essentially seized most large private businesses and taxed the hell out of the rest at 85%. He enacted price controls. He believed that only the state could manage a stable economy. He believed in national self-sufficiency rather than international trade.
He promoted a cult of personality in which propaganda, public works, and prestige projects bolstered his image and that of Italy. He portrayed himself as an intellectual.
And he was an avowed atheist who attacked Christianity and the Catholic Church. But he was not an anti-semite and supported the existence of Jews in Italy for most of his reign. He only turned against them under pressure from his new ally Hitler as WWII drew near.
Unfortunately for Mussolini and Italy, joining with Hitler was the wrong move. They ultimately lost, and Mussolini was executed by a communist.
-----
Originally I'd written this post to compare and contrast fascism with modern-day US Republicans, but I'm tired of writing about current US politics. But I saved the historical part.