Can anyone explain the appeal of fascism to me?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Reading the article on fascism on Wikipedia (I mean, we can all quibble on what exactly "fascism" is, it's one of the favorite things to quibble over on the left, but the article does a fairly good job presenting some re-occuring themes in bodies of thought* commonly described as "fascist"), I was struck by how thoroughly unappealing fascism is. Like, in every possible way. Even in other opposing ideologues, I can at least find some element that is non-repulsive, but...I just don't understand how anyone can find the appeal in never-ending violence, strict hierarchy and complete domination under a state that seeks the ideal of totalitarianism. I don't get it.

Maybe it's the uniforms?

*And yeah, I'm aware of the common idea that fascism is "all form and no ideology".

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

Populism is something that appeals to people in times of crisis, that is mostly why people turned to Hitler. Germany was a wreck, Hitler gave the Germans someone to blame and promised to build it up again. Now, not every fascist is exactly like Hitler but the basics remain the same.
It is not so much the ideology of fascism that appeals but the things it promises.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I guess my question is more along the lines of, does fascism actually appeal to anyone on a purely ideological basis?

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

Maybe this is of interest as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eULnWKKmY-c&sns=em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MNq2gWR_lk&sns=em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewy7Fqrw19g&sns=em

[Prometeo liberado]

The Facsist soldiers had a more crisp marching style. What more do you need?

[Prometeo liberado]

I guess my question is more along the lines of, does fascism actually appeal to anyone on a purely ideological basis?

To answer this, yes. The petty bourgeoisie fell all over themselves in Spain, Italy, Germany and Pinochet's Chile. You grab that class and the clergy, along with a sleeping proletariat, forget about it! A recipe for disaster.

[The Douche]

I guess I see myself as a bit of a warrior (though not particularly much of one), and I find elements of Evola's philosophy to be fascinating at some level, and the aesthetic of fascism is appealing to me.

I think fascism is appealing to people who seek adventure and who see, in themselves, some sort of martial tradition. I mean, look, the motto of the Italian fascists was "me ne frego", "I don't give a damn". Another popular phrase of theirs was "long live death".

There is an aesthetic there that is going to appeal to some people.

[citizen of industry]

You are special because you are part of a superior racial/national group. You have symbology, tradition, comrades, activism. I'm sure a lot of people find it appealing. Theoretical bankruptcy though.

[Ismail]

The actual "doctrine" of fascism is stupid and can be read here: http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaster/reading/germany/mussolini.htm

As others have said, fascism got its popularity from its "regenerative" effects: it promised economic recovery and revenge against "traitors" to the nation, it promised glory for said nation, it aped Bolshevik mass organizations (trade unions, groups for the youth, women, etc.) and other methods of mass mobilization, and promised a state that would obliterate class contradictions not by actually getting rid of classes, but by "uniting" them within the context of the state, which they all supposedly served. The actual ideology meant little outside of intellectual circles, although there were those who were disappointed that the glorious irrelevancy of classes and whatnot never came to pass, some of whom later took part in the Italian Social Republic with its economic policies of "socialization (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist_socialization)."

In Spain the fascist movement there had a notably "syndicalist" edge, which Franco promptly emaciated.

[Il Medico]

Sleek uniforms and timely trains guys! Whats not to like? :rolleyes:

[Comrade Samuel]

Because being progressive is just too mainstream.:cool:

[Il Medico]

Because being progressive is just too mainstream.:cool:
http://www.abstractmodem.com/1_ironicinvasion.jpg

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

^ I want that shirt Hitler has.

[Comrade Samuel]

http://www.abstractmodem.com/1_ironicinvasion.jpg

Pfffft...whatta hitster.

[bricolage]

Another popular phrase of theirs was "long live death".
I think that one was from Spain not Italy.

[The Douche]

I think that one was from Spain not Italy.

Yeah, you might be right.

[Art Vandelay]

It's gotta be the uniforms.

[The Douche]

It's gotta be the uniforms.

Hugo Boss.

[Sir Comradical]

Because it's reaction presented as subversion and so it gives hope to the petty bourgeois ruined by capitalist crisis.

[officer nugz]

it is appealing to people who are full of anger and want revenge against others, and like violence because they are upset. it is also a way to direct anger.

[Q]

Hugo Boss.

...
Huge Boss
...
Führerprinzip

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkVEAGFE7AED4TMdXOB-9nEcp24PA-QJD76A0XrLo64nWSjPU-oQ

[MarxSchmarx]

If you are addicted to revleft but are not self-disciplined enough to leave of your own accord and too lazy to go through the infraction process, declaring yourself a fascist is an efficient way to no longer be able to use the site.

[Jimmie Higgins]

but...I just don't understand how anyone can find the appeal in never-ending violence, strict hierarchy and complete domination under a state that seeks the ideal of totalitarianism. I don't get it.

Well I think there is a reason that fascism really dosn't grow much outside of times of either: rapid capitalist change - also involving working class struggle as part of that rapid modernization (this is why these ideologies tend to glorify some more stable and "idealic" mythical past era); or just in times of capitalist crisis.

Fascism appeals to people as an alternartive to the possible "horror" of working class rebellion on the one hand and inept crisis-prone capitalist leadership on the other. So in a period of unrest and social crisis, yeah, domination by the state, hierarchy (generally fascism appeals to the people who are supposedly going to have a realtivly higher hierarchical position bolstered), and the never ending violence is probably seen as at least proactive violence (by them or the state) as opposed to "chaos" of social unrest and strikes and an inverted class or social hierarchy.

[Nox]

It's because of the belief that only strict government control can protect the overall interests of the nation. Fascists are well aware that "democracy" (the bourgeois type) has led to progressiveness in society. That's why they are deathly opposed to it.

As for why people would be a Fascist in the first place, well, there are quite a few reasons. For many, it's out of love for their heritage. For others, it's because they see Fascism as a possible solution to the economic problems. For others, it's because they have had bad experiences with other races. It varies from person to person.

By the way, I'm not sure whether you are specifically talking about the Fascist ideology, or just the word "fascist" in general.

[The Douche]

It's because of the belief that only strict government control can protect the overall interests of the nation. Fascists are well aware that "democracy" (the bourgeois type) has led to progressiveness in society. That's why they are deathly opposed to it.

As for why people would be a Fascist in the first place, well, there are quite a few reasons. For many, it's out of love for their heritage. For others, it's because they see Fascism as a possible solution to the economic problems. For others, it's because they have had bad experiences with other races. It varies from person to person.

By the way, I'm not sure whether you are specifically talking about the Fascist ideology, or just the word "fascist" in general.

Democracy also lead to fascism...


And democracy (especially the modern state) is not particularly different from fascism, in fact, in many countries, the laws on the books now are tougher than the laws they had under fascism.

[officer nugz]

It's because of the belief that only strict government control can protect the overall interests of the nation. Fascists are well aware that "democracy" (the bourgeois type) has led to progressiveness in society. That's why they are deathly opposed to it.fascist countries have had parliaments that operated in a manner similar to standard parliamentary democracy

[ed miliband]

it is appealing to people who are full of anger and want revenge against others, and like violence because they are upset. it is also a way to direct anger.

i think many millions of people feel a variation of these emotions daily, and indeed, the nature of capitalism compels such feelings in many cases.