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The prototypical fascist regime was that of [[Benito Mussolini]], who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. German [[Nazism]] referred to government mandated corporatist entities as industrial cartels and added an obsession with [[race]]. Austrian economist [[Friedrich Hayek]] observed in the final stages of [[World War II]], "the rise of fascism and [[Marxism]] was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of those tendencies. Yet it is significant that many of the leaders of these movements, from Mussolini down (and including Vichy French prime minister [[Pierre Laval]] and Norwegian puppet ruler [[Vidkun Quisling]]) began as socialists and ended as fascists or Nazis.<ref>Friedrich A. Hayek, [http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 31 - 32.</ref>
The prototypical fascist regime was that of [[Benito Mussolini]], who ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. German [[Nazism]] referred to government mandated corporatist entities as industrial cartels and added an obsession with [[race]]. Austrian economist [[Friedrich Hayek]] observed in the final stages of [[World War II]], "the rise of fascism and [[Marxism]] was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of those tendencies. Yet it is significant that many of the leaders of these movements, from Mussolini down (and including Vichy French prime minister [[Pierre Laval]] and Norwegian puppet ruler [[Vidkun Quisling]]) began as socialists and ended as fascists or Nazis.<ref>Friedrich A. Hayek, [http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 31 - 32.</ref>
While not considered fascist by most scholars, some conservative authoritarian regimes cooperated with fascist groups and included some corporatist elements of fascism. These include those of [[Francisco Franco]] in Spain (1936–1975) and [[Antonio Salazar]] in Portugal (1932–1968).
While not considered fascist by most scholars, some conservative authoritarian regimes cooperated with fascist groups and included some corporatist elements of fascism. These include those of [[Francisco Franco]] in Spain (1936–1975) and [[Antonio Salazar]] in Portugal (1932–1968). Similarly, various authoritarian regimes who were anti-Communist were often falsely conflated with fascism by leftists, with examples including Muhammad Suharo of Indonesia and Augusto Pinochet of Chile.
==Inspiration for the New Deal==
==Inspiration for the New Deal==
In large part because of the false notion that fascism belonged to the right-wing of politics instead of the left-wing, several leftists have falsely referred to President [[Donald Trump]] and his plans to make America great again as "fascist." On a similar note, the left-wing anarchist group [[Antifa]] (which was short for "anti-fascist"), despite its name, was closer in overall ideology and actions to fascism in reality.
In large part because of the false notion that fascism belonged to the right-wing of politics instead of the left-wing, several leftists have falsely referred to President [[Donald Trump]] and his plans to make America great again as "fascist." On a similar note, the left-wing anarchist group [[Antifa]] (which was short for "anti-fascist"), despite its name, was closer in overall ideology and actions to fascism in reality.
====Fascism misdefined as far-right====
As noted above, Fascism has largely been falsely identified as being part of the far-right since World War II. This ultimately came to a head around 2003 when a literature professor by the name of Dr. Lawrence Britt, under the claims that he had studied Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Muhammad Suharto, and Augusto Pinochet (even though only Hitler and Mussolini were actual adherents to fascism), made 14 points about Socialism in the various countries, claiming that the fourteen points were the following:
<blockquote>*Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
*Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
*Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
*Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
*Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
*Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
*Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
*Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
*Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
*Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .
*Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
*Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
*Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
*Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. </ blockquote><ref>https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html</ref>
However, key flaws in the analysis are made apparent from various elements. In particular, the 1919 Fascist Manifesto listed as its very first point under politics that it will present "Universal suffrage polled on a regional basis, with proportional representation and voting and electoral office eligibility for women", contradicting point 5 of Brett's analysis which indicated that rampant sexism in favor of males was prevalent. In addition, both the Fascist Manifesto as well as both the 1920 and 1925 versions of the Nazi Platform specifically indicated that they are to disband the military and replacing it with a national militia under the military problems, with the latter sources also condemning the concept of making "war profits", even calling for a revision of military contracts and confiscating profits from them, which conflicts with point four about the supremacy of the military. Likewise, regarding labor unions, both the 1919 Fascist Manifesto and both versions of the Nazi Platform make clear that they if anything considered labor unions their allies, conflicting with point 11. Similarly, Point 10 is conflicted with the same sources, which if anything voiced the corporate power as being the enemy. In fact, a few readings into these sources make clear that most of the elements of fascism are closer in nature to socialism. In addition, point 1 implies that showing any form of patriotism is considered fascist, which ignores that Joseph Goebbels when describing the beliefs of the Nazis, stated that "[the NSDAP] hates Bougeoise Nationalism".<ref>Der Angriff, Dec 6th, 1931</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Nazism]]
*[[Nazism]]
*[[Fascist Manifesto, 1919]]
*[[Nazi platform of 1920]]
*[[Nazi platform of 1925]]
==Further reading==
==Further reading==