Criticism of fascism Fascism

1 criticism of fascism

1.1 anti-democratic , tyrannical
1.2 unprincipled opportunism
1.3 ideological dishonesty

criticism of fascism

fascism has been criticized , condemned in modern times since defeat of axis powers in world war ii.

anti-democratic , tyrannical


reichsführer-ss heinrich himmler , spanish dictator francisco franco in madrid in 1940

one of common , strongest criticisms of fascism is tyranny. fascism deliberately , entirely non-democratic , anti-democratic.

unprincipled opportunism

some critics of italian fascism have said of ideology merely by-product of unprincipled opportunism mussolini , changed political stances merely bolster personal ambitions while disguised them being purposeful public. richard washburn child, american ambassador italy worked mussolini , became friend , admirer, defended mussolini s opportunistic behaviour writing: opportunist term of reproach used brand men fit conditions reasons of self-interest. mussolini, have learned know him, opportunist in sense believed mankind must fitted changing conditions rather fixed theories, no matter how many hopes , prayers have been expended on theories , programmes . child quoted mussolini saying: sanctity of ism not in ism; has no sanctity beyond power do, work, succeed in practice. may have succeeded yesterday , fail to-morrow. failed yesterday , succeed to-morrow. machine first of must run! .

some have criticized mussolini s actions during outbreak of world war opportunist seeming abandon marxist egalitarian internationalism non-egalitarian nationalism , note effect upon mussolini endorsing italy s intervention in war against germany , austria-hungary, , new fascist movement received financial support foreign sources, such ansaldo (an armaments firm) , other companies british security service mi5. some, including mussolini s socialist opponents @ time, have noted regardless of financial support accepted pro-interventionist stance, mussolini free write whatever wished in newspaper il popolo d italia without prior sanctioning financial backers. furthermore, major source of financial support mussolini , fascist movement received in world war france , believed have been french socialists supported french government s war against germany , sent support italian socialists wanted italian intervention on france s side.

mussolini s transformation away marxism became fascism began prior world war i, mussolini had grown increasingly pessimistic marxism , egalitarianism while becoming increasingly supportive of figures opposed egalitarianism, such friedrich nietzsche. 1902, mussolini studying georges sorel, nietzsche , vilfredo pareto. sorel s emphasis on need overthrowing decadent liberal democracy , capitalism use of violence, direct action, general strikes , neo-machiavellian appeals emotion impressed mussolini deeply. mussolini s use of nietzsche made him highly unorthodox socialist, due nietzsche s promotion of elitism , anti-egalitarian views. prior world war i, mussolini s writings on time indicated had abandoned marxism , egalitarianism had supported in favour of nietzsche s übermensch concept , anti-egalitarianism. in 1908, mussolini wrote short essay called philosophy of strength based on nietzschean influence, in mussolini openly spoke fondly of ramifications of impending war in europe in challenging both religion , nihilism: [a] new kind of free spirit come, strengthened war, ... spirit equipped kind of sublime perversity, ... new free spirit triumph on god , on nothing .

ideological dishonesty

fascism has been criticized being ideologically dishonest. major examples of ideological dishonesty have been identified in italian fascism s changing relationship german nazism. fascist italy s official foreign policy positions known commonly utilize rhetorical ideological hyperbole justify actions, although during dino grandi s tenure italy s foreign minister country engaged in realpolitik free of such fascist hyperbole. italian fascism s stance towards german nazism fluctuated support late 1920s 1934, when celebrated hitler s rise power , meeting hitler in 1934; opposition 1934 1936 after assassination of italy s allied leader in austria, engelbert dollfuss, austrian nazis; , again support after 1936, when germany significant power did not denounce italy s invasion , occupation of ethiopia.

after antagonism exploded between nazi germany , fascist italy on assassination of austrian chancellor dollfuss in 1934, mussolini , italian fascists denounced , ridiculed nazism s racial theories, particularly denouncing nordicism, while promoting mediterraneanism. mussolini himself responded nordicists claims of italy being divided nordic , mediterranean racial areas due germanic invasions of northern italy claiming while germanic tribes such lombards took control of italy after fall of ancient rome, arrived in small numbers (about 8,000) , assimilated roman culture , spoke latin language within fifty years. italian fascism influenced tradition of italian nationalists scornfully looking down upon nordicists claims , taking pride in comparing age , sophistication of ancient roman civilization classical revival in renaissance of nordic societies italian nationalists described newcomers civilization in comparison. @ height of antagonism between nazis , italian fascists on race, mussolini claimed germans not pure race , noted irony nazi theory of german racial superiority based on theories of non-german foreigners, such frenchman arthur de gobineau. after tension in german-italian relations diminished during late 1930s, italian fascism sought harmonize ideology german nazism , combined nordicist , mediterranean racial theories, noting italians members of aryan race, composed of mixed nordic-mediterranean subtype.

in 1938, mussolini declared upon italy s adoption of antisemitic laws italian fascism had been antisemitic, in fact, italian fascism did not endorse antisemitism until late 1930s when mussolini feared alienating antisemitic nazi germany, power , influence growing in europe. prior period there had been notable jewish italians had been senior italian fascist officials, including margherita sarfatti, had been mussolini s mistress. contrary mussolini s claim in 1938, small number of italian fascists staunchly antisemitic (such roberto farinacci , giuseppe preziosi), while others such italo balbo, came ferrara had 1 of italy s largest jewish communities, disgusted antisemitic laws , opposed them. fascism scholar mark neocleous notes while italian fascism did not have clear commitment antisemitism, there occasional antisemitic statements issued prior 1938, such mussolini in 1919 declaring jewish bankers in london , new york connected race russian bolsheviks , 8 percent of russian bolsheviks jews.