Fascism

What is fascism? The misuse of the word "fascism" has driven me up the wall for years. I have argued about this at various blogs and conversations. But people seem to want to use the word to mean whatever they want it to mean. And that is crap. The worst example of course is Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism, which defines fascism to be exactly the opposite of what it is.

David Neiwert, a true expert in the subject, reviewed Goldberg's book. He continues to write on it. In refuting Goldberg's absurd definition, he calls on how others have defined fascism. I post those here to help us all understand just what fascism consists of.

From Robert Paxton:

-- -- a sense of overwhelming crisis beyond the reach of any traditional solutions;

-- the primacy of the group, toward which one has duties superior to every right, whether universal or individual, and the subordination of the individual to it;

-- the belief that one's group is a victim, a sentiment which justifies any action, without legal or moral limits, against the group's enemies, both internal and external;

-- dread of the group's decline under the corrosive effect of individualistic liberalism, class conflict, and alien influences;

-- the need for closer integration of a purer community, by consent if possible, or by exclusionary violence if necessary;

-- the need for authority by natural leaders (always male), culminating in a national chief who alone is capable of incarnating the group's destiny;

-- the superiority of the leader's instincts over abstract and universal reason;

-- the beauty of violence and the efficacy of will, when they are devoted to the group's success;

-- the right of the chosen people to dominate others without restraint from any kind of human or divine law, right being decided by the sole criterion of the group's prowess in a Darwinian struggle.

From Robert Griffin:

Fascism: modern political ideology that seeks to regenerate the social, economic, and cultural life of a country by basing it on a heightened sense of national belonging or ethnic identity. Fascism rejects liberal ideas such as freedom and individual rights, and often presses for the destruction of elections, legislatures, and other elements of democracy. Despite the idealistic goals of fascism, attempts to build fascist societies have led to wars and persecutions that caused millions of deaths. As a result, fascism is strongly associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism, and violence.

I hope these definitions help a bit. One can disagree on some of the details. But I think it's important to know that a) just because is to the right or left of you, they are not fascist; b) violence does not equal fascism; c) liberalism sure as hell has nothing at all to do with fascism; d) fascism actually means something and we should educate ourselves about it to know what we are talking about.