Fascism

[SmashCapitalism]

Just wondering, why does the revolutionary left hate fascism so much? It also seems to be anticapitalist and places emphasis on the worker...

Of course, there have been some terrible fascist regimes, though the same can be said of communism/socialism.

Is it because of fascism's intense nationalism?

[apathy maybe]

OK, quite simply fascism is nothing to do with the worker. It is about centralising power in the hands of the few, a large state dictatorship, removing what little rights we have and crushing any opposition.

The thing about fascism is that it is not a real ideology in the sense of having loads written promoting it and so on. Sure Mussolini did write some stuff and Hitler wrote a lot of garbage but there isn't a cohesive collection of writing on fascism that promotes it.

There is a lot of proto-fascistic stuff about, and that is equally abhorrent.

So why do we as leftists (of all strips) hate fascism? It is anti-worker, it is militaristic, massively nationalistic, socially conservative, places lots of emphasise on the party and the leader (Duce, Führer and so on). It is capitalistic, it crushes the unions and the bosses accumulate more wealth.

It is intensely irrational.

All fascist regimes have been bad for ever body except those in power.

I could go on, but I won't. If you are serious, please ask in the anti-fascist forum.

[Guerrilla22]

Because fascism equals extreme nationalism. We on the left believe in internationalsim or working to benefit the lives or people all over the world, regardless of nationality. Fascist also beleive that some people are superior to others, which I don't think I have to get into why that is terrible.

[Kropotkin Has a Posse]

It's a force to divide and give the top echelons large amounts of wealth and power. Even when it's not racist it's still repressive and self-serving. Look at Singapore.

[BreadBros]

SmashCapitalism, you have to look beneath the surface of things, not just accept movements or histories based on what they say. Deeds, not words.

Fascism is too complex to boil down in any simple way but there are some things we can say about it. First and foremost, it is not anti-capitalist. In countries where it has come into existence (Italy, Germany, etc.) it merely meant greater cooperation and support between the state and private industry. Capitalism continued unabated and in fact big business fluorished.

Its not pro-worker at all in any way. Fascist countries generally have little to no protection for workers, wages become rigid, forced labor becomes common and in general the divide between rich and poor is incredibly exacerbated.

In general in modern democratic, capitalist countries society and government exist in an environment of class contention. Capitalism continues but it can not exercise total societal domination. Fascism can be said to be the complete domination of all aspects of life by the state and the bourgeoisie. It seems to also be true that in order to create such a society a heavily militaristic nation that is engaged in nationalist warfare is needed. So really fascism stands counterposed to revolutionary leftism, its a polar opposite. Remember, in both fascist Italy and Germany leftists were among the victims of the Holocaust.

[SmashCapitalism]

Thanks for the info, guys!

[R_P_A_S]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27, 2007 09:18 am
SmashCapitalism, you have to look beneath the surface of things, not just accept movements or histories based on what they say. Deeds, not words.

Fascism is too complex to boil down in any simple way but there are some things we can say about it. First and foremost, it is not anti-capitalist. In countries where it has come into existence (Italy, Germany, etc.) it merely meant greater cooperation and support between the state and private industry. Capitalism continued unabated and in fact big business fluorished.

Its not pro-worker at all in any way. Fascist countries generally have little to no protection for workers, wages become rigid, forced labor becomes common and in general the divide between rich and poor is incredibly exacerbated.

In general in modern democratic, capitalist countries society and government exist in an environment of class contention. Capitalism continues but it can not exercise total societal domination. Fascism can be said to be the complete domination of all aspects of life by the state and the bourgeoisie. It seems to also be true that in order to create such a society a heavily militaristic nation that is engaged in nationalist warfare is needed. So really fascism stands counterposed to revolutionary leftism, its a polar opposite. Remember, in both fascist Italy and Germany leftists were among the victims of the Holocaust.
why do people call Bush and the U.S. Fascist? because the corporations pull the strings? or what?
and are they really fascist or is it an exaggeration?

[Saorsa no bas]

Its an exaggeration to describe Bush et al as fascist. They are neo liberal capitalists and imperialists. But fascists? No. Fascism scientifically is only achieved when the working class have been decisively defeated and democratic rights have been abolished. It takes a mass movement of the petty bourgeois, the lumpen proletariat, a significant section of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to bring about fascism , historically when they and their system are threatened by revolution and economic stagnation.