Storm Signals The Iron Heel
Madeline Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, in her new book, Fascism: A Warning, talks about a petri dish of fascism. Although she is critical of Trump's undemocratic ways she states clearly he is not a fascist. In her view fascism comes from below and blames those feeling excluded, who are then exploited by demagogues who want power. As an astute member of the ruling elite Albright sees a political future of increasing polarisation in the US and away from the centre ground.
Fascism is a term banded around by journalists, politicians, academic and ordinary people to describe groups and individuals they disapprove of or fear. It is a word loaded with meaning. For example, Isis is described by many as a Neo-Fascist organisation while western politicians regularly compare Putin and Assad to Hitler. Meanwhile, many use the term ‘fascist’ to describe the leadership style and ideas of Donald Trump. It has become commonplace for people to use the word ‘fascist’ as term of abuse with which to criticize others.
Source https://www.anarkismo.net/article/29669
Fascism has become an increasingly meaningless term due to the casual and inappropriate way it is used in our modern world. In most cases those who use the term really do not understand what it means. I think we could do with some clarity on the issue.
History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, do people need to be on their guard for a rise of fascism? The great German writer Berthold Brecht seemed to think so, "Do not rejoice in his [Hitler] defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again".
Source https://en.mehrnews.com/photo/112164/Shadows-of-new-American-fascism
Wikipedia defines fascism as a radical authoritarian nationalism - characterised by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and control of commerce and industry. It then links to a further Wikipedia page on the definition of fascism and how it is a highly disputed subject. Firstly it is noted that not all authoritarian regimes are fascist. Many scholars refer to fascism as an ideology. Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist leader, refers to fascism as a conception of the State as all-embracing, and above all, as a system of thought. Academics have dissected fascism into constitute parts - such as the prominent work of Italians Umberto Eco, with his fourteen properties, and Emilio Gentile with his ten elements.
Source https://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/shyz6/how_to_tell_if_you_are_living_in_a_fascist_state/
Is it no wonder we don't know what fascism is?
Fascism was not understood in the early twentieth century either. Those who warned about fascism and in particular the rise of Hitler were few and far between. The European fascists had intimate links with big business. The British fascist leader Oswald Mosley was initially backed in the early 30s by military figures and lords and ladies. Some of these were wealthy Jews, but this was before Mosley adopted anti-Semitism as an indispensible means of rallying ignorant and backward supporters. Big financiers and bankers openly backed Hitler as an "investment against Bolshevism". Over in Russia, Stalin was determined to retain friendly relations with Germany against the Versailles powers. Fascism was characterised as "merely" a manifestation of the failure of capitalism.
Source http://www.nationalmemo.com/cartoon-cable-news-now-available-hell/
In 1944 George Orwell wrote an essay for the Labour paper Tribune in which he wrote, "Of all the unanswered questions of our time, perhaps the most important is; 'What is Fascism?'. He writes that "we all know broadly what we mean", but that it is then applied in all seriousness as a castigation of our enemies. Today we can see this in Trump being called Fascist and Clinton a Marxist. Neither are accurate terms, however we can understand the insult. Orwell considers whether the word Fascist "is almost entirely meaningless".
However, he does formulate a definition. He makes a synonym of fascism with bully. He states there are clear differences between fascist and democratic regimes. That fascism can mean 'in sympathy with Hitler' and that it has an emotional significance connected to cruel, unscrupulous, arrogant, obscurantist, anti-liberal, anti-working class behaviour. Orwell concludes that it is impossible to have a clear definition of fascism. That it cannot be defined "without making admissions". Orwell concludes by appealing to a circumspect use of the word.
Source http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/12/15/splitting-hairs-donald-trump-fascist-nazi-muslim/
If the synonym of fascism is bully, then is the antonym communist? Fascist's hate Communists more than anything else. Ironically, some people comment they are the same thing. The Marxist definition of fascism is that fascism must first be understood within the context of class society. Faced with a revolutionary working class (on which communism is based), the petrified ruling class can allow the bully boys to rule over the workers. The fascist's primary job therefore is to destroy the workers movements and organisations. Fascism finds its base of support in the middle layers of society. They are attracted to the anti-capitalist demagogy at a time of crisis.
We can also associate fascism with South America. A popular destination for those escaping Europe after the defeat of the Axis powers. Think of the film The Boys From Brazil. There have also been a number of fascist regimes such as Argentina. Many have identified Pinochet as the first of these South American fascists dictators, and that as a result the economic policies implemented by his regime were similarly characterised as fascist.
Naomi Klein begins her book Shock Doctrine in Chile in 1973. Here on September 11th General Pinochet took over the rule of Chile. She discusses how the Catholic University, home of the Chicago Boys (Milton Friedman followers), became ground zero for the creation of the what the CIA called "a coup climate". Many students joined the fascist Patria y Libertad and goose stepped through the streets.. These interests were threatened in Chile with the election of a Popular Unity government led by the socialist Allende. From the very first a counter-coup was being planned. Up until the end Allende believed his generals would not break with legality. However, Chile shows us, the elite are only too ready to abandon democracy if that's what it takes.
Source Google Images
However, was it fascism? It certainly had the main hallmarks - brutal and violent suppression of opposition and extremely anti-working class. Dictatorial and authoritarian rule. The fusing of Church, the banks and the landowners. However, unlike Hitler's National Socialism, there was no political programme/ideology that had a mass base in Chilean society. The churches, banks and landowners had an historically close relationship. Fascist groups were small and acted as auxiliary units. Chile was no stranger to military coups and there was undoubtedly sympathy for the generals, but not for fascism. This coup was different however, because the economists (the Chicago Boys) did have an ideology and found undue influence to roll it out.
In this way the entire "globalisation", neo-liberal agenda was attached by some to the idea of fascism. Which is ironic as it is international in outlook, as opposed to the radical nationalism of fascism. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the UK from 1979-1990, was a great admirer of General Pinochet. She personally lobbied against his prosecution for war crimes when he was arrested in London in 1998. It is very easy to see how Thatcher could then be described as a fascist in pink gloves. The clever grocer's daughter from the middle of England could have indeed, under different circumstances, been a stupendous fascist leader.
Source https://www.cartoonmovement.com/cartoon/9792
There are definitely card carrying, jack booted, murdering Nazis about, such as Right Sector and Svboda in the Ukraine. There are also bound to be Nazi descendants of the rat line living in South America as we speak. Not to mention all the German scientists and spies who were recruited by the US government in 1945. None of this amounts to a fascist conspiracy. Although there are writers who note the dates of the Chilean coup 9/11/73 and 9/11/01. We must put conspiracy to one side. Fascism must be understood as a mass movement, or not understood at all.
One perceptive analyst of German fascism was the psychologist Wilhelm Reich, who was forced to flee Germany after Hitler came to power. In his book, The Mass Psychology of Fascism, Reich notes:
"Fascism was and is still conceived as the dictatorship of a small reactionary clique . The tenacity to which this error persist is to be ascribed to our fear of recognising the truth - fascism is an international phenomena, which pervades all bodies of human society, all nations...As a political movement fascism differs from other reactionary parties in as much as it is borne and championed by masses of people". Wilhem Reich, from The Mass Pyschology of Fascism.
Source http://time.com/3712734/1920-nazi-party-history/
To understand the nature of fascism is to better aware of the danger it poses. Our current system is in a massive crisis. We have had a financial crash akin to 1929 but we have only papered over the cracks allowing the problem to become deeper and more intractable. Another crisis looks likely, and we do not know what the political and social repercussions might be. However, those who think the German masses were brainwashed and that it couldn't happen here [insert name of democratic country] should think again.
Fascism then, is the social and political manifestation of the fear of what will happen when civil society falls apart. In terms of power, fascism triumphs when the ruling elite have lost confidence in their ability to govern and they fear revolution. Fascism brings stability with its all-embracing ideology, and once a state goes fascist, it goes all the way. It provides a breeding ground for Freud's unconscious, repressed man. This is why fascism is a threat to us all and we all need to be aware of the dangers. In the famous words of German pastor Martin Niemoller:
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_fascism
https://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/bitch-is-in-heat-again.html
https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-156/did-churchill-ever-admire-hitler/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Mosley
http://orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/efasc
http://www1.udel.edu/johnmack/frec406/theories_of_govt3.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/tories-have-forgotten-that-thatcher-wasnt-just-a-terrorist-sympathiser-but-close-friends-with-one-10507850.html
http://hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/first-they-came-pastor-martin-niemoller
Reich, W The Mass Psychology of Fascism, Souvenir Press 1970 ISBN 0 285 64701 6
Klein, N The Shock Doctrine Clays Ltd 2007 ISBN 978 0 141 02453 0
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