What is Fascism?

May 27, 2022

Fascism as a political movement began in Italy during World War 1. The term comes from the Latin “fasces”: an axe surrounded by a bundle of rods. This symbol of authority was carried into the ancient Roman senate to let everyone know that the Roman government had the power to inflict corporal (the rods) or capital (the axe) punishment.

In a fascist government, like the one practiced by Benito Mussolini or Francisco Franco, the state is all. All individuals are subservient to the state and it’s elite leadership. Although on paper private property still exists, the central government directs all means of production. The state dictates what shall be produced, how much, and for what price. The state also controls all health care, all education, all media, and decides whether or not the individual can move to different parts of the country or emigrate. All political opposition is illegal. Elections are merely shows to produce a veneer of legitimacy.

If this sounds like a socialist government, it is because it is. Fascist governments are typically placed on the “far right” of the political spectrum…the extreme opposite of communism. However, since fascists believe in an absolute control of citizens in the same way communists do, I believe they are leftists…”sisters” of communism. On the right of the political spectrum would be those who believe in lesser central government control, or no government at all: conservatives, then libertarians, then finally anarchists.

The fascist governments that arose in Europe in the early 20th century (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Romania) were known as militaristic police states. They used their secret police, the media, education, health care, and religion as tools of the state to control the masses.

They were also imperialistic and believed in invading other countries to feed the “fatherland.”. They were known as being xenophobic and racist…targeting racial minorities for special abuse and/or extermination.

It is only in their racist policies that fascist governments are significantly different from communist governments.

After the defeat of fascist governments in Europe in 1945, the last vestiges of such governments found a home in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and in several middle eastern nations (Syria, Egypt, Iraq, for example).

Today, the word is a perjorative term among civilized people, yet it is often carelessly tossed about and pinned on political opponents who bear no resemblance at all to the anti-capitalist, freedom hating, jack booted murderers of Nazi Germany or Fascist Italy of long ago.