Quality of life in fascist nations

[Questionable]

What was the quality of life like in fascist nations? I've read that Italy, Spain, and Germany all underwent economic booms under their authoritarian regimes.

[Philosophos]

From what I know from the greek junta that took power at 1967 was that the quality of life was pretty much good. Papadopoulos (the guy in charge) erased all the loans that people have taken, gave home (and nice homes not holes) to lots of people, he built roads and he helped Greece economical growth.

Of course the social/civil rights were butchered. Lots of people that lived during that era told me that more than 3 people couldn't hang out together, at 9 o'clock everyone should be in their homes and much more.

The quality of economical growth was good but let's face they wouldn't have done all these things if they didn't want to stay in charge of things. Also even if the economy is good (under capitalism if you know what I mean) you can't possibly live under fascism. Everything is too restricted and the government is seeing enemies everywhere so basically you don't know if you're next on their list of communist, democracts etc...

[Crabbensmasher]

Well, I had family who lived in Germany during the Nazi reign. They left in 1938-39 actually due to economic reasons. Although they were lifted out of the depression by Hitler (Can't speak for other Fascist states, but I assume the same), I have a feeling that materially, life was pretty shitty. My great grandfather was a professional gambler in Germany, and the story goes he later found out he had a tooth infection. He was denied medical care, and actually ended up dying from complications due to the infection. Unfortunately, I don't know any more specifics other than that. The last family member on that side died around 2003.

But yeah, people may have had jobs, trains ran on time (I hate that expression) etc, but asking for any more than that was pointless. And you could forget about advanced social security. The minimum wage was probably dirt low as well. AND they didn't have the ability to strike for higher wages; that was forbidden. You see, the corporations were in bed with the Nazis and vice versa.

So, from a humanist perspective, it was shit. And even from a utilitarian perspective, it still left much to be desired.

The real thing that kept people upbeat was the goddamn nationalism. If Hitler says the economic condition is good, then you best as hell say it's good too.

[Comrade Nasser]

Well you're right about the short-lived economic booms.

Honestly the thing with Fascism the Ultranationalism that they exhibit is very appealing to the poor and huddled masses. It is enticing to people who have had (I don't wanna say bad) but a less than desirable life. It keeps the people "happy" in their little bubble (the bubble is usually, if not always, some idea of racial superiority or something along the lines of "We are better than them we deserve to attack them and take their land" i.e. Imperialism). Fascism and Communism are BOTH appealing to the poor and the working class (communism obviously more geared towards the proletariat). This is the bad thing. If we don't get to them first the fascist/liberals/right-wingers and other undesirable ideologists will swoop down on them like an owl on an unsuspecting mouse in the dead of night.

And of course social/civil rights were greatly mistreated or altogether swept under the rug. If you were homosexual, lesbian, transsexual, asexual, bisexual, an ethnic minority, or a racial minority, you can count on being treated like shit. If a fascist regime ever came to power again you can guarantee they will follow the ideals of Mussolini and the ilk that his "Ideology" spawned. That is why we must never let a regime like this ever take hold again.

Overall no the quality of life in Fascist nations is not good.

[Old Bolshie]

Portugal and Spain underwent economic booms during the 50's and 60's but mostly due to the post-war economic boom. In case of Portugal you can really say that it happened in spite of the fascist state which put barriers to the industrial development in the country for a long time. Portugal also benefited from its African Colonies which also experienced economic booms.

The quality of live for the average worker was pretty low. Illiteracy was very high, poverty abounded among the working class, Health was not accessible for everyone and the infantile mortality was also very high for the modern patterns. The welfare state was practically non-existent. Technology development was very backward. In Spain the case was pretty much similar.

The case of Italy and Germany are different. Germany had economic growth under the Nazi regime at the expense of Keynesianism and the national debt which skyrocket to extremely high levels. This is in fact appointed as one of the reasons among others behind Germany's motivation to launch a war in 1939. Besides the loss of fundamental political and economic rights, the quality of life of the German working class lowered compared with the Weimar Republic and there was a decrease in real wages during the III Reich. One of the few positive aspects for the German workers was the virtual elimination of unemployment which mainly happened because of the alienation of jews and women from labor.

In Italy there was never an economic boom under Mussolini dictatorship and the quality of life for the average worker was similar to that which I gave you above about Portugal and Spain.

[Narodnik]

It was great, except if you were an "enemy of the people".


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_miracle