(The opinions expressed here of those of Marc Luzietti.
What is fascism?
Mussolini allegedly said (note, this quote actually first appears in an English
translation of a work by Giovanni Gentile, who was one of the theorists of
fascism) it was the government + corporations, and as he was the first leader
of fascism, we ought to take his word, right? Well, we need to keep in mind
that Mussolini, like all fascists, was an opportunist. He said whatever he
thought would gain him the most support. So we can't necessarily trust his word
on the subject.
Second, corporation in
Italian has a different meaning than in English. Sectors of society are
considered corporations (it's a medieval view of society). So farmers are a
corporation, unions are a corporation, the church is a corporation. So when
Mussolini supposedly said fascism is the unity of the state with corporations,
it would have meant the fusion of all of society with the state, not just joint
stock corporations. Which isn't to say he wasn't the running dog of the joint
stock corporations. Again, opportunist, says anything.
Lastly, just as
Marx says it's not what a man thinks of himself that defines him, but his
relations in society, so too is that true of social movements. Just cuz
fascists think something of themselves doesn't make it true.
Many seem to believe
that severe authoritarianism is fascism. While it is true that fascism is
severe authoritarianism, not all severely authoritarian governments are
fascist. We have to look past the forms these governments take, and look at
their essence.
So what is fascism?
In a nut shell,
fascism is a mass movement of the enraged middle classes ("middle
class" as defined by Marxism, not the American understanding of the term).
They are getting their ass kicked by capitalism, and in their terror at being
ruined, they lash out at all whom they see as responsible for their plight. So
in Italy Germany
As capitalism
is always kicking
the middle classes asses, these reactionary elements always exist in capitalist
society. What helps them grow into a mass movement is the support of the ruling
class, or rather, the most powerful layers of the ruling class (the ruling
class is not homogeneous, capitalism being defined by, among other things,
fierce competition among capitalists, even when they seek to damp that down).
If the profits of this layer are under threat, and they cannot rely on the
usual means of dealing with it (calling out the army or the police) they may begin funding a
fascist movement.
The capitalists
only do this as a last resort, however, because they are effectively turning
the state over to an alien class, and one that contains elements quite hostile
to them. Consider the Tea Party's hatred of the bank bailouts and its attempt
to tank the American economy just recently. It's only when the capitalists see
no other way out that they turn to this insane enraged mass, because once they
are in charge, there's no telling what they might do, like invade the USSR.
Like most mass
movements, fascism attracts support from many classes. Historically, many of
the foot soldiers of fascism were working class folks, farmers, etc. But the
main impetus of fascism is the ruination, fear, and rage of the middle classes.
Fascism is not
friendly. Fascism is not a policy. Fascism doesn't smile. Fascism is a boot on
your face, forever. Fascism allows no opposition. The test to see whether or
not you live in a fascist society is whether or not whether or not you are
still alive. Since you are, we can be certain we don't live in a fascist
society. (I am assuming here you are a leftist, since we're wiped out very
quickly when the fascists come to power.)
Doesn't mean it
can't happen, but the Tea Party has played out its historic role of saving the
profits of the Finance sector of the economy, so they will likely be defeated
in the next elections. ... Unless the ruling class fears a mass upsurge of the
working class, which there is some indication that they do.
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