Fascism- What is it?

[Lost Sultan]

I am really asking this because I feel extremely inadequate about the subject.
What is fascism?
How would you describe it if someone told you to use the least amount of words?
What is its origins?
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about this ideology?
Do you in anyway sympathize with it? If not, why not?
Which state in history embraced it the most?
Are there any books you prefer on the subject?

[Deep_Red]

What is fascism, briefly: Fascism is a political ideology with origins in post first- world-war Italy. It belongs to the economical right and is highliy authoritarian. Fascism values strong leadership and contains many sub-ideologies like antisemitism, rascism, anti-democratism and social darwinism. As said before the origins of Fascism lay in Italy and it´s leading political figures Mussolini and D´Annuncio, of which the last belonged to the philosophical school of Futurism.
The biggest misconceptions, for me, are two:
1) The integration of the Japanese Empire in a coalition of fascist states since Japan didn´t use any kind of fascist ideology.
2) The belief that Fascism only is a historical phenomena or only stretches across Italian and German history. It´s a ever existing thread at the far right spectrum.
I don´t sympathize with Fascism in any manner for it is inhuman, brutal and opposed to any kind of freedom.
The states that embraced it most are Italy and Germany (the 3. Reich), but with changing preferences.
Books on this matter I used are mostly German, but one that I´d propose for lecture is "Nationalsozialismus" by Bernhard Pfändtner.

[Digbert]

Pretty much what Deep_Red said here are some of my favourite Mussolini quotes

Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of Fascism.

Fascism is a religious concept.

Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.

Banker bailouts anyone!!!!

Socialism is a fraud, a comedy, a phantom, a blackmail.

So why did he align himself with a Socialist

The keystone of the Fascist doctrine is its conception of the State, of its essence, its functions, and its aims. For Fascism the State is absolute, individuals and groups relative.

The Liberal State is a mask behind which there is no face; it is a scaffolding behind which there is no building.

[nopasties]

[Phier]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

One silly pointless pictures deserves another...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

i think the line between fascism and socialism is blurred to the point that anyone who wants to be free as an individual can't see the difference.

[nopasties]

One silly pointless pictures deserves another...
i think the line between fascism and socialism is blurred to the point that anyone who wants to be free as an individual can't see the difference.

[Deep_Red]

i think the line between fascism and socialism is blurred to the point that anyone who wants to be free as an individual can't see the difference.

What about the "silly and pointless"-part again?

[Desperado †]

i think the line between fascism and socialism is blurred to the point that anyone who wants to be free as an individual can't see the difference.

Only if your different definitions of social authority and economic authority are equally blurred, and only if you don't realise that capitalism can equally trap as it can free.

[Pickle_mole]

i think the line between fascism and socialism is blurred to the point that anyone who wants to be free as an individual can't see the difference.

great statement, they restrict Freedom (inlcuding communism), why does it matter why they hold you down except that they are holding you down?

[Vladimir Lenin]

Because, I totally remember that time where Bush and Cheney commited Genocide, and took over control of the entire Government as a dictatorship.

Calling the Republican Party, "Fascist" or comparing Bush to Hitler, is an insult to the millions of people who actually were killed by actual fascists. It belittles the threat of Fascism, and it belittles the pain that it has caused the world.

[2-D Ron]

Pretty much what Deep_Red said here are some of my favourite Mussolini quotes
Banker bailouts anyone!!!!
So why did he align himself with a Socialist

America is more 'Corporatism' as the Lobbyist groups have your elected representative's by the balls.
The Socialism thing is just post-McCartyist/Neo-Con reactionary nonsense.

[Manco]

Fascism values strong leadership and contains many sub-ideologies like antisemitism, rascism, anti-democratism and social darwinism.

I'd disagree about racism and anti-Semitism being a necessary inherent part of fascism. Fascism is nationalistic to the bones, but there were some fascists who believed that all nations were separate but equal. They were quickly trumped by the fascists we know of today of course. (I'm trying to think of one who's more known but his name escapes me)

Still, I don´t see the link between the goals of Socialism and the goals of Fascism.

Very broadly put: socialism is for the people of the state, while fascism is for the state of the people.

[Deep_Red]

I'd disagree about racism and anti-Semitism being a necessary inherent part of fascism. Fascism is nationalistic to the bones, but there were some fascists who believed that all nations were separate but equal. They were quickly trumped by the fascists we know of today of course. (I'm trying to think of one who's more known but his name escapes me)

That´s why I put "like..." in it. Certainly not all kinds of Fascism contain Rasism etc., but the most prominent examples certainly do.

Very broadly put: socialism is for the people of the state, while fascism is for the state of the people.

If we can agree on the fact that these two ideas oppose is other, I´ll sign your statement.

[Manco]

If we can agree on the fact that these two ideas oppose is other, I´ll sign your statement.

Well, it's the people that differ really. True socialism is theoretically inclusive and makes no difference between ethnicities and other minorities. The people is everyone within the country, and sometimes even supranational. Though communism is of course not true socialism we can see traces of it in Stalin's socialism in one state policy and Trotsky's ideas of exporting the revolution.

Fascism on the other hand is exclusive, the state defines the people. And this has lead to minorities and ethnicities being classified as not being part of the people. And of course fascism is opposed to supra- and pan-nationalism

[Conquistador_88]

What is fascism, briefly: Fascism is a political ideology with origins in post first- world-war Italy. It belongs to the economical right and is highliy authoritarian. Fascism values strong leadership and contains many sub-ideologies like antisemitism, rascism, anti-democratism and social darwinism. As said before the origins of Fascism lay in Italy and it´s leading political figures Mussolini and D´Annuncio, of which the last belonged to the philosophical school of Futurism.
The biggest misconceptions, for me, are two:
1) The integration of the Japanese Empire in a coalition of fascist states since Japan didn´t use any kind of fascist ideology.
2) The belief that Fascism only is a historical phenomena or only stretches across Italian and German history. It´s a ever existing thread at the far right spectrum.
I don´t sympathize with Fascism in any manner for it is inhuman, brutal and opposed to any kind of freedom.
The states that embraced it most are Italy and Germany (the 3. Reich), but with changing preferences.
Books on this matter I used are mostly German, but one that I´d propose for lecture is "Nationalsozialismus" by Bernhard Pfändtner.

And what about communism, how of democratic it have??? its like fascism, only by another way... both ideologies are anti-democratics, not only one!

And forgive me but Italian fascism at start had not racism ideology, Nazism only had!

100 millions of person dead by communism, prove of it are(Rusia, China, Camboya(the most horrible communist massacre) etc etc..)

The problem is that today world, only know like the bad guys to some, but not all!

Its curious but today all countries that had a comunist goverment, are the most undeveloped countries(Romania, Ukraine, Albania etc...) not like old fascist countries, like mine!

But guys i must to say that i´m not fascist! i love freedom and democracy!

[Deep_Red]

And what about communism, how of democratic it have??? its like fascism, only by another way... both ideologies are anti-democratics, not only one!

And forgive me but Italian fascism at start had not racism ideology, Nazism only had!

100 millions of person dead by communism, prove of it are(Rusia, China, Camboya(the most horrible communist massacre) etc etc..)

The problem is that today world, only know like the bad guys to some, but not all!

Its curious but today all countries that had a comunist goverment, are the most undeveloped countries(Romania, Ukraine, Albania etc...) not like old fascist countries, like mine!

But guys i must to say that i´m not fascist! i love freedom and democracy!

The point of this discussion was the definition of Fascism. Look above for answers to your questions.

You realize that because they call themselves a republic or democracy it doesn't count unless it really is right?

Where excactly links your point to the above mentioned? Is it just me or did you jump from state theory to wealth and vice versa?

[Phier]

Where excactly links your point to the above mentioned? Is it just me or did you jump from state theory to wealth and vice versa?

Please give me examples of true republic/democratic hell holes that can compare to communist ones

I'm sure you have a point in there somewhere, but so far, I just assume you are under 30, and in school. After that no one is really a communist

[Deep_Red]

Please give me examples of true republic/democratic hell holes that can compare to communist ones

I'm sure you have a point in there somewhere, but so far, I just assume you are under 30, and in school. After that no one is really a communist

True democratic hell holes? uhm... I don´t know of true communist hell holes so there is no point in comparing.
For the second: So, in your logic, an argument is only true if it´s mind of origin is older than 30 or has a job?

[The Devil's Sergeant]

Fascism is a philosopy that seeks to subborn all elements of society to the will of the state. The good of the state is all important.

[Deep_Red]

Socialism is a philosopy that seeks to subborn all elements of society to the will of the state. The good of the state is all important.

The OP question links where?