Links between economic fascism and extreme economic liberalism?

[Broletariat]

It has something to do with Pinochet and Robespierre doesn't it? I'm incredibly fuzzy on this subject, please fill me in.

[Red Commissar]

Well, there was the so-called "Chicago Boys", economic graduates from the University of Chicago trained under capitalist economists like Milton Friedman who were sent back to Chile after Pinochet's assumption of power (so yes, Chicago School economics).

This was done with the US's blessings to restore a market economy in Chile and reverse what Allende did. For much of Pinochet's time these economic principles were carried out. Milton Friedman points to a so-called "Miracle of Chile" as proof his theories worked.

They lost influence after the end of Pinochet's rule, though market liberalization remains a powerful force in Chile.

I wouldn't necessarily call this a "link" though. It also depends on whether or not you would consider Pinochet's reign to be fascist in nature or just hardline conservative.

[Rusty Shackleford]

fascism doesnt really have an economic policy beyond defending privilege and ensuring capitalism works in the interest of the nation as a whole and the national borugeoisie.

italy transitioned form lasseiz faire capitalism to keynesian capitalisn in the 30s even though fascism was around since '22 i think. it operates as a hard shell for capitalism to stay alive after it has been severely threatened.

[Zeus the Moose]

What I think is a fairly important link between fascism and "extreme economic liberalism" (classical liberalism or modern American libertarianism) is their disdain for democracy. On the side of fascism I think the contempt is pretty clear- the centralisation of power into a corporate state structure with only a formal, rubber-stamp legislature, and opposition to any sort of mass participation in society.

On the libertarian side it's a little less clear. After all, a number of libertarians would claim to be in favour of civil liberties and defenders of representative government (though the Friedmanite intervention in Chile does begin to question this.) However, many libertarians uphold the way the US government is structured in the constitution as a very positive model, with things like the presidential veto, the Senate (both in its limited and universal suffrage varieties), and such being "checks and balances" on the ability of the directly-elected House of Representatives to actually pass laws.