Fascism can only be understood in the context of interwar Italy. It was a direct reaction to the Biennio Rosso, when Italian communists seized factories and territory with machine guns. Various groups, mostly comprised of middle class college students, clashed with the reds and recreated the horrors of WW1 in the streets of Italy. Mussolini was the leader of one such group. He and some friends marched to the King to declare that they could end the violence if they were put in charge, so the King gave them control of the government.
Fascism is a form of managerialism with the explicit goal of opposing communists and advancing the interests of the Italian people. While not antiracist in any form, it is relatively race neutral, which was a major point of disagreement with their German ally. In order to prevent communists gaining control, the fascists set about securing every node of power before the reds could. It is explicitly hierarchical, corporatist and nationalist. Corporatism isn't to be confused with modern corporations, but rather is about organizing people into power blocks according to their societal role, then balancing the interests of those groups with the interests of the nation. This was all permeated with a very particular Catholic flavor.
For better reading on the topic check out Paul Gottfried's Fascism: The Career of a Concept, or if you are into YouTube videos Mr Patriarch has a series on it that leans heavily on Gottfried's work.
Leftist use fascist as a designator for enemy. You won't be able to change that, so all you can do is step over. Don't get angry or argue about meaning or deny it. Either ignore it completely or tell them you are happy to be the enemy of evil.
I've been thinking about your comments on "fascism" and can't help but agree. This is after watching a YouTube commentary by "kraut" on Putin's alleged philosophical orientation, one influenced by a genuine fascist of the early 20th-century, a real crackpot advocating a hodgepodge of theocratic weirdness named Ivan Ilyin.
It was a bit frightening to realize that Putin admires and often cites this guy as inspirational and has been successfully molding Russia according to Ilyin's blueprint.
This is something we never hear from those journos whose job it allegedly is to keep people informed of important political facts. Instead of analysis we get propaganda caricatures intended to stoke paranoia and war lust.
Fascism can only be understood in the context of interwar Italy. It was a direct reaction to the Biennio Rosso, when Italian communists seized factories and territory with machine guns. Various groups, mostly comprised of middle class college students, clashed with the reds and recreated the horrors of WW1 in the streets of Italy. Mussolini was the leader of one such group. He and some friends marched to the King to declare that they could end the violence if they were put in charge, so the King gave them control of the government.
Fascism is a form of managerialism with the explicit goal of opposing communists and advancing the interests of the Italian people. While not antiracist in any form, it is relatively race neutral, which was a major point of disagreement with their German ally. In order to prevent communists gaining control, the fascists set about securing every node of power before the reds could. It is explicitly hierarchical, corporatist and nationalist. Corporatism isn't to be confused with modern corporations, but rather is about organizing people into power blocks according to their societal role, then balancing the interests of those groups with the interests of the nation. This was all permeated with a very particular Catholic flavor.
For better reading on the topic check out Paul Gottfried's Fascism: The Career of a Concept, or if you are into YouTube videos Mr Patriarch has a series on it that leans heavily on Gottfried's work.
So Fascism was a historically contingent movement that ceased to exist with the execution of Mussolini and the destruction of Fascist Italy in WW II.
I can get along with that, but what to do with all the contemporary palaver about "Fascism"? It's meaningless.
Leftist use fascist as a designator for enemy. You won't be able to change that, so all you can do is step over. Don't get angry or argue about meaning or deny it. Either ignore it completely or tell them you are happy to be the enemy of evil.
Good advice, thanx.
I've been thinking about your comments on "fascism" and can't help but agree. This is after watching a YouTube commentary by "kraut" on Putin's alleged philosophical orientation, one influenced by a genuine fascist of the early 20th-century, a real crackpot advocating a hodgepodge of theocratic weirdness named Ivan Ilyin.
It was a bit frightening to realize that Putin admires and often cites this guy as inspirational and has been successfully molding Russia according to Ilyin's blueprint.
This is something we never hear from those journos whose job it allegedly is to keep people informed of important political facts. Instead of analysis we get propaganda caricatures intended to stoke paranoia and war lust.