Grigsby Chapter 6

Fascism

Fascism

• The political system of the extreme right, which incorporates:• Principles of the leader (dictator)• A one-party state• Totalitarian regimentation of economic & social

activity• Arbitrary exercise of absolute power by the regime

• Rejects Socialism, Communism, Democracy

20th Century Ideology

BenitoMussolini(1883-1945)

Adolf Hitler(1889-1945)

Opposition to Pacifism

• Pacifism• Countries can and should coexist peacefully

and resolve disputes by nonviolent means. • Fascism view of Pacifism

• Cosigns a country to weakness• Excuses cowardice• Abandons the risk-taking that might propel

country into position of greater strength• Territorial expansion• Taking power over government• Demonstrating superiority

Promotion ofNationalism• A people’s heightened

sense of cultural, historical, and territorial identity, unity, and sometimes greatness

• An alternative to internationalism andindividualism• Anti-Internationalism: Reject international allies

ability to override national sovereignty• Anti-Individualism: Individual interests

subordinate to interests of nation

Glorification of the State

• The state is the vehicle through which the attributes of the nation are expressed

• Totalistic State (Totalitarian)• Governments that control the totality of human life

and subordinate the individual to the state. • Popular empowerment

• State regulation of economic, cultural, and political life.

Nothing off limits for state regulation.

• 1925: Started monitoring people involved in sports, drama, bands, orchestras, libraries, and theatres.

Fascists in Italy

• 1926: Outlawed strikes• 1927: Proclaimed nation more important than

individual• 1928: Announced culture to reflect fascist ideals.

Women forbidden to wear pants. • 1929: Publishers required to submit political

manuscripts to fascist representatives for approval. • 1934: Corporations empowered to establish wages

and prices. • 1935: Independent labor unions prohibited.

German Fascists• To increase control

over economic matters:• 1933: Illegal to divide land among different

heirs. • 1934: Prohibited migration to urban areas with

high levels of unemployment. • 1935: Legalized the procedure of requiring

former agricultural workers to return to their jobs in agriculture.

• State displaced the individual as the locus of economic decision making.

Racism

• Individuals not equal by birth and should not be equal under the laws. • Divide individuals by

natural abilities and social worth.

• Average person• Obligated to submit to the

elites• Desired to be dominated by

themNordic Ideal

Selection tests consisted primarily of racial and medical examinations. These were followed by analyses of the child's character, ability and psychological qualities. The racial tests were conducted by specialists from the Main Office for Race and Settlement of the SS or sometimes, as in Lódz, by doctors from the health department. There were special forms for the tests which contained 62 points concerning the child's physique, shape and colourof the eyes, type of hair, etc. This detailed physical description of the child was used to establish its racial type. There were 11 racial types and two additional ones: negative and positive. The racial type having been established, the child was put into one of three categories:1. "Desirable natural increase" 2. "Tolerable natural increase" 3."Undesirable natural increase"

Nazi Inferiors

• Jews • Jehovah’s Witnesses• Roma (gypsies)• Criminals• Political dissidents• Gay men• Lesbians and “Antisocials”

Neofascism

• Modern revival of Fascism and National Socialism• Russia• China• Austria• United States• France• Germany

TOLEDO RIOTS OCTOBER 15, 2005

• Four-hour standoff • Tavern burned down• Businesses looted • 114 protesters arrested • Over 24 police and rioters treated for

injuries at local hospitals