Does Capitalism inevitably always lead to Fascism?

[Hexen]

I've been watching Micheal Parenti's "The Functions of Fascism" which I kinda noticed that alot of the things that caused it to happen are very identical of what's happening today. So I'll ask you this....Does Capitalism always inevitably lead into Fascism and what signs/symptoms of it are found today that we could be once again heading towards it?

[Boboulas]

I think things like the bailouts in america and europe along with the comming cuts are only going to strengthen the right, it seems that the left isnt really organising and fighting back in the west.

The tea parties in america are evidence of this, people with legitimate grievances bieng led by the becks, hanitys and limbaughs of the right. You can tell that the liberal pundits (maher,MSNBC,colbert, stewart,cnn) are happy to let this happen by either criticizing them or merely reporting it so as to seem fair.

Where is the radical left resistance, where is the answer the left seems to be declinign to offer these working class people.

We are far from fascism but the west is definitely showing resemblances to the 30s.

Just some personal observations, would love it if someone had some suprise info that i missed out on but im not holding out for it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Radical left enrollment and participation is lower than NSM participants, sad really

[Hexen]

Could it be possible that we could be heading towards something that is far worse? Or is the current events much worse off than the 30s due to the lack of a left-wing opposition?

[The Fighting_Crusnik]

Assuming that a Capitalist system is allowed to go uninterrupted, it will reach fascism at some point of time. But depending on the people, it could either occur a few years into its beginning, or it could occur in a few hundred years. But regardless, the key to fascism in Capitalism is Libertarianism and its evolution into anarcho-capitalism.

[Widerstand]

I've been watching Micheal Parenti's "The Functions of Fascism" which I kinda noticed that alot of the things that caused it to happen are very identical of what's happening today. So I'll ask you this....Does Capitalism always inevitably lead into Fascism and what signs/symptoms of it are found today that we could be once again heading towards it?

Capitalism creates social unrests. It has done that in the past, and it is doing it right now, so there isn't much doubt it will in the future. I would call it a sign that the system itself is flawed, and I think many would agree.
Social unrest is a tricky thing however. It polarizes people, to some extreme of the political spectrum. So while it could lead to an anarchist or communist revolution, it could also lead to a fascist or religious fundamental revolution or the likes.

Asides from that, I'm not too sure if Capitalism will naturally evolve into fascism, and I don't think it has done that anywhere so far.

In the West's current shape, I think a right-wing revolution would be just as, if not more likely than a left-wing. There are various signs in the mainstream indicating this already. Specifically the growing hate towards Muslims, which could, along with high unemployment and generally horrid social/financial conditions, turn into an Anti-Muslim wave in the fashion of 19th century Antisemitism. Of course it's not as bad yet - or maybe I'm delusional here, but Antisemitism has, according to my knowledge, been an old and deep rooted notion in Western society since at least the middle ages, and Anti-Muslim attitudes are fairly recent.


Could it be possible that we could be heading towards something that is far worse?

Possible are a lot of things. Do you have any reasons to assume we could? If so, do share please.

[Hexen]

Possible are a lot of things. Do you have any reasons to assume we could? If so, do share please.

I really don't know. I guess I've been worrying about the future too much.

[IllicitPopsicle]

Assuming that a Capitalist system is allowed to go uninterrupted, it will reach fascism at some point of time. But depending on the people, it could either occur a few years into its beginning, or it could occur in a few hundred years. But regardless, the key to fascism in Capitalism is Libertarianism and its evolution into anarcho-capitalism.

I disagree. Historically, libertarianism/anarcho-capitalism were not the catalysts for fascism in europe/the middle-east/asia/wherever else I'm forgetting. Additionally, the current definition for "libertarianism" and the theory of anarcho-capitalism itself did not arise until after world war II.

Could fascism most likely evolve out of an anarcho-capitalist society? Yes. But anarcho-capitalism is not a bona-fide prerequisite for fascism.

[Lyev]

Well I haven't really read much directly dealing with the connection between capitalism and fascism I would postulate that the way capitalists economies have operated recently have given fascists fuel for their flame. If capitalists want to increase the productivity of labour of their workforce as much as possible It makes sense to employ people that work for longer hours and less pay. Immigrants don't have many workers rights and such and therefore work for less, leading to better profits for the ruling class. Immigration is a scapegoat, leading to racism and bigoted views. It's inherent for capitalism to drive worker against worker, capitalist against capitalist and worker against capitalist. Competitiveness is at the root of capitalist production. So yes, I think capitalism and fascism are often linked.

[Jolly Red Giant]

The answer to the original question is NO - capitalism does not inevitably lead to fascism.

Fascism is a weapon of the ruling class - one they lost control of in the 1930's (their first time using it on the scale they did). They will use fascism again in the future, but will do everything in their power to keep it under their control. The runling class will want reasonably sized fascist organisations in the future to attack the workers movement, but will be careful to limit their size so that they don't pose a threat in terms of seizing power. If they feel a fascist organisation is getting out of control they will attempt to smash it mercilessly and rebuild another one.

This is not to that a fascist party will not achieve power - but it would do so against the will of the bourgeoisie, rather than with their acquiescence.