Fascism. Definition. Origins

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1 Fascism Definition Fascism is a term to describe a totalitarian political philosophy. This ideology stresses the unity of the state and the individuals within it into a single entity or an organic whole. In other words, it advocates collectivism and seeks to set up a collaborative nation in accordance with extreme nationalism and conservatisms. Other elements of fascism that the historians have identified include anti Semitism (Jews or Arabs), racism, anti communism, anti liberalism and populism (total subordination and loyalty to the leader of state as they are the true saviors that seeks to glorify the nation and its people, for example Adolph Hitler who promised to get rid of the Semites to solve the Jewish Problem to Reich and the rest of Europe). Fascism was also related to militarism and aggressiveness. It was (and is) also used carelessly as a swearword by the general public to describe something cruel, unscrupulous, arrogant, obscurantist, anti liberal and anti working class. Origins Before the 20th century, there was no significant fascist movement. However in 1894 a full scale fascism was created in an incident known as Dreyfus Affair in which conservatives allied with the monarchies, as well as the rivals of the republican government, against the left wing heirs of French revolutionary values who stood up for the Jewish Officer Alfred Dreyfus who were charged with treason. A radical political called Action Française group was born, much like the Nazis and Fascists; they kept a brutal youth organization and developed their own political ideology. Since then there has been a wave of anti Jew sentiment in France. This extreme right wing ideology was further shaped and coined after the First World War. The term was first used by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to describe his political movement and philosophy of his regime from 1922 to Fascism basically comes from the Latin word fasces. It was an Ancient roman symbol that depicted a bundle of rods tied around an axe; the idea portrayed was that unity is powerful and strong. Other examples of fascist regime included Hitler s Nazi Germany, Franco s Spain and Portugal s New State. Though they are in some way different, they no doubt share a common characteristic they are all authoritarian in nature. Structure In economy, fascism could be seen as a compromise between communism and laissez faire capitalism. In case that you are puzzled, fascism is opposed to communism and rejected it s doctrines as a whole. The Fascists were opposed of Communists materialistic ideal and class struggle and that they preserved capitalism ( by accepting private ownership of people) but not a laissez faire capitalism in which only a small class of people benefited. Marxism was the complete abolition of class and private property and set up a new state based on equality. Hence from here we can see that the fascists are pro middle class as they seek the support of this bulk of population. In economy, fascism can be called corporatism because the government tied the interests of the industries and other economic corporations to the state

2 Tradition Fascism affirmed and preserved traditional values and talked about restoring to the current society poisoned by liberalism. Traditional social ideology, such as "machismo", family values, religious faith, patriotism, social structure, honor, and traditional hard work some of which the communists opposed of because they believed in equality of all gender and races. Fascism is also anti atheism and embraced religion which the Marxist called the opium of people. In this 1937 article on education in Germany states that Life comes from God and returns to God and that..(people losing) contact with life when they (the people) lose contact with God. Public Opinion One important factor to the popularity of fascism is the fascist politicians penchant for mass appeal. A fascist candidate can promise you almost anything at any moment (but it is not certain whether the promise will be fulfilled).however, it doesn t mean that many people were interested in the fascists radical ideology. The reason why it won hearts of thousands is because of another factor called negative cohesion. The fascist hated communism and this obviously won the support of middle class and the capitalist class who shared the same fear with the fascists the chaotic situation after the revolution in Russian and expropriation of their private property. Fascists also seek to exploit the anger of people of the humiliation at the defeat after the First World War and the disappointment of the democratic government failing to deal with economic crisis, namely the Great Depression. References Fascism Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, March 22). Retrieved March 23, 2008, from Fascism ninemsn Encarta. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2008, from Fascism definition, origins, characteristics, fascist state, corporative state. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2008, from Orwell, G. (2004, July 24). George Orwell: What is Fascism?. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from Price, R. G. (2003, October 23). Understanding Fascism and anti Semitism. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from, Web site: The political economy of fascism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2008, from

3 Communism Origin During the Industrial Revolution in Europe, a new class of poor was created due to the harsh conditions that the works underwent. In the book written by Karl Marx and published in 1848, The Communist Manifesto, he points out the poverty of the lower class and proposed the idea of communism which is both a economic and political philosophy. He claimed that capitalism is an imperfect system which will eventually break down and give way to communism. He encouraged the lower class to riot and overthrow the upper class, in order to free them from poverty. He and Friedrich Engels, the author of Principles of Communism, both believed that revolution was the only way to achieve socialism and saw communism as liberation of the people. In the first phase of the society being called socialism, there would still be different classes remaining. As society progresses, there would not be any classes remaining, entering the higher phase commonly referred to as communism. The 1917 October Revolution took place in Russia, led by the Bolshevik Party. Marxist ideologies indicate that socialism should only be built on an advanced capitalist society. However, Russia was under the control of Tsar and was one of the poorest countries in Europe. This made it difficult for Russia to progress. After the Second International dissolved in 1916, Lenin proposed the Third International and sent out Twenty one Conditions. However Marx, Socialist also pointed out that Russia s October Revolution could be a start of the worker s revolution in Europe. The Bolshevik Party changed its name to the Communist Party and marked the start of the first communist state in the world. After World War II, Soviet Union had gained more territory under her influence in East Europe like East Germany and Hungary. Soviet Union also spread communism to her neighboring countries like China. This also created branches of communism like Maoism in China. All these communist states followed the theory of Marxist Leninism and were against capitalism. This movement also started the Cold War. Theory Proposed by Karl Marx, communism wants to create a classless society where everyone is equal and there won t be any poor in the country. Under the control of communism, all property will belong to the state and there is a heavy progressive tax imposed on the people. Other than regional planning, the government has control over the bank, labor, farming, education factories and agriculture. No religion and morality are allowed in communism, but these things are essential in society. Communism, however, is only the final state of society and in order to achieve this final goal, there is a transformation period where everything in the country is controlled by the government. This is some kind of dictatorship and in Marxist Theory, it is being referred to as dictatorship of the proletariat, in this first state of society, people don t have the choice to vote for the kind of government and all companies are under the government. Although a communist society exists only in theory, there are countries that are currently ruled by a communist party. These countries are referred to communist states; however, these countries call themselves as socialist states. As world communism is the final stage of the world in Marxist Theory, these communist states are required so that the country is able to change into communism from capitalist state. In The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx only stated the theory of communism, hence in practical, this ideology is often being referred to as Marxist Leninism as Lenin put Marxist Theory

4 into practice. Currently, there are only five communist state in the world, they are China, Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea and Laos. But there are also communist parties in Europe, in these countries; these are Reformist Communist Parties in Italy, France and Spain. Public Opinion Under the rules of communism, all sorts of communication are controlled by the government, so there is definitely propaganda being spread by the government. In this propaganda, people will be heavily influenced by the government, having no other form of communications; people will definitely support the current government. So in communist states, people actually support the government and this ideology to a large extent. However in the other countries, especially in United States, there was a period where there was anticommunism. Communism is often criticized for its economic performance in the countries and human rights. When communism is put into practice, it is very similar to totalitarian states and people are given little freedom. And when communism is practiced in economic policy, the performance is not as good as countries with capitalism. Communism is also blamed for not able to provide for their people and many countries are extremely poor. References Christian communisms Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, March 19). Retrieved Mar. 22, 2008, from Communism Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, March 22). Retrieved Mar. 22, 2008, from Communism. (n.d.). Retrieved Mar. 23, 2008, from Colton, T. J. (2007). Communism MSN Encarta. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007, Davis Center for Russian Studies, Harvard University Web site: Engels, F., & Blunden, A. (n.d.). The Principles of Communism. Retrieved Mar. 23, 2008, from com.htm. Museum of Communism. (n.d.). Retrieved Mar. 22, 2008, from

5 Conservatism Origin There have been many definitions for the term conservatism. However all of them have this one thing they must have, the common characteristic of preservation. However, what is preserved differs with each definition. Conservatism comes from the beginning of mankind where the need to survive compelled man to preserve what they thought was good. However it was only until 1789 that conservatism began to be recognized as distinct movement. Types of conservatism Cultural conservatism Cultural conservation is an ideology. It emphasizes on the importance of preserving good culture and tradition. For example, moral values of a kind of tradition. While this has its good points, it also has its bad points. This would cause a country to discriminate against other cultures as they would seem immoral to them Religious conservatism Religious conservation emphasizes on the preservation of religions and is up to the extent where law can help to enforce these religions. This kind of conservatism has major disadvantages as a multi racial country with different religions would face tremendous problems as the religions would oppose each other and riots and fights may occur between the religions. National/social conservatism National conservatism emphasizes the need to preserve racial purity so as to continue the existence of the country s national identity. This can be achieved by limiting immigration and emigration and to have people with the same race to marry each other. However the economical advantage of having a multiethnic society sees national conservatism making way for economical interests. Aristocracy Conservatism is also a form of aristocracy. This is because the people attempt to create a society with an order of classes and statures. The uppermost class will have power over the rest of society. This is achieved by instilling the impression that some people are superior to others. Yet this form of conservatism goes directly against democracy and therefore is rejected in many societies. References Agre, P. E. (2004, August). What Is Conservatism and What Is Wrong with It?. Retrieved March 23, 2008 from, Web site: Conservatism Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, March 17). Retrieved Mar. 23, 2008, from

6 Conservatism: Definition and Much More from Answers.com. (n.d.). Retrieved Mar. 23, 2008, from fin. National conservatism Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2008, February 27). Retrieved Mar. 23, 2008, from

7 Socialism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Socialism (pronounced /ˈsoʊ ʃəɫɪzm /) is an economic system in which the means of production are publicly or commonly owned and controlled cooperatively, or a political philosophy advocating such a system. [1] As a form of social organization, socialism is based on co operative social relations and selfmanagement; relatively equal power relations and the reduction or elimination of hierarchy in the management of economic and political affairs. [2][3] Socialist economies are based upon production for use and the direct allocation of economic inputs to satisfy economic demands and human needs (use value); accounting is based on physical quantities of resources, some physical magnitude, or a direct measure of labor time. [4][5] Goods and services for consumption are distributed through markets, and distribution of income is based on the principle of individual merit/individual contribution. [6] As a political movement, socialism includes a diverse array of political philosophies, ranging from reformism to revolutionary socialism. State socialist currents of socialism advocate for the nationalisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange as a strategy for implementing socialism; while social democrats advocate public control of capital within the framework of a market economy. Libertarian socialists and anarchists reject using the state to build socialism, arguing that socialism will, and must, either arise spontaneously or be built from the bottom up utilizing the strategy of dual power. They promote direct worker ownership of the means of production alternatively through independent syndicates, workplace democracies, or worker cooperatives. Modern socialism originated from an 18th century intellectual and working class political movement that criticised the effects of industrialisation and private property on society. Utopian socialists such as Robert Owen ( ), tried to found self sustaining communes by secession from a capitalist society. Henri de Saint Simon ( ), who coined the term socialisme, advocated technocracy and industrial planning. [7] Saint Simon, Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx advocated the creation of a society that allows for the widespread application of modern technology to rationalise economic activity by eliminating the anarchy of capitalist production that results in instability and cyclical crises of overproduction. [8][9] Socialists inspired by the Soviet model of economic development, such as Marxist Leninists, have advocated the creation of centrally planned economies directed by a single party state that owns the means of production. Others, including Yugoslavian, Hungarian, East German and Chinese communist governments in the 1970s and 1980s, instituted various forms of market socialism, [citation needed] combining co operative and state ownership models with the free market exchange and free price system (but not free prices for the means of production). [10]

8 Liberalism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article discusses the ideology of liberalism. Local differences in its meaning are listed in Liberalism worldwide. For other uses, see Liberal (disambiguation). Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom") [1] is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. [2] Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but most liberals support such fundamental ideas as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, free trade, and the freedom of religion. [3][4][5][6][7] These ideas are widely accepted, even by political groups that do not openly profess a liberal ideological orientation. Liberalism encompasses several intellectual trends and traditions, but the dominant variants are classical liberalism, which became popular in the eighteenth century, and social liberalism, which became popular in the twentieth century. Liberalism first became a powerful force in the Age of Enlightenment, rejecting several foundational assumptions that dominated most earlier theories of government, such as hereditary status, established religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The early liberal thinker John Locke, who is often credited for the creation of liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition, employed the concept of natural rights and the social contract to argue that the rule of law should replace absolutism in government, that rulers were subject to the consent of the governed, and that private individuals had a fundamental right to life, liberty, and property. The revolutionaries in the American Revolution and the French Revolution used liberal philosophy to justify the armed overthrow of tyrannical rule. The nineteenth century saw liberal governments established in nations across Europe, Latin America, and North America. Liberal ideas spread even further in the twentieth century, when liberal democracies triumphed in two world wars and survived major ideological challenges from fascism and communism. Conservatism, fundamentalism, and military dictatorship remain powerful opponents of liberalism. Today, liberals are organized politically on all major continents. They have played a decisive role in the growth of republics, the spread of civil rights and civil liberties, the establishment of the modern welfare state, the institution of religious toleration and religious freedom, and the development of globalization. Political scientist Alan Wolfe wrote, "liberalism is the answer for which modernity is the question". [8] Social liberalism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding civil rights. Under social liberalism, the good of the community is viewed as harmonious with the freedom of the individual. [1] Social liberal policies have been widely adopted in much of the capitalist world, particularly following World War II. [2] Social liberal ideas and parties tend to be considered centrist or centreleft. [3][4][5][6][7]

9 A reaction against social liberalism in the late twentieth century, often called neoliberalism, led to monetarist economic policies and a reduction in government provision of services. However, this reaction did not result in a return to classical liberalism, as governments continued to provide social services and retained control over economic policy. [8] The term "social liberalism" is often used interchangeably with "modern liberalism". [9] The Liberal International is the main international organisation of liberal parties, which include, among other liberal variants, social liberal parties. It affirms the following principles: human rights, free and fair elections and multiparty democracy, social justice, tolerance, social market economy, free trade, environmental sustainability and a strong sense of international solidarity. [10]

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