Module 4

Chapter 20

• Fascism was intensely nationalistic, seeking to revitalize and purify the nation and to mobilize its people for some grand task. 
• Fascists bitterly condemned individualism, liberalism, feminism, parliamentary democracy, and communism, all of which they argued, divided and weekend the nation. 
• Fascist movements appeared in many Western European countries but had very little political impact. 
• Fascist movements achieved political power in Italy and Germany. 
• Mussolini swept into power in 1922 promising an alternative to both communism and ineffective democratic rule. 
• Italy's fascist regime disbanded independent labor unions and peasant groups as well as all opposing political parties. 
• Although Mussolini was an atheist he made the catholic culture the national religion of Italy.
• In the fascist propaganda, women were portrayed in highly traditional domestic terms (mothers or stay at home women). 
• German fascism was similar to the Italian counterpart.
• both espoused an extreme nationalism 
• openly advocated the use of violence as a political tool
• generated a single-party dictatorship
• led by charismatic leaders  
• despised parliamentary democracy
• hated communism
• viewed war as a positive experience 
• Large numbers of middle-class people deserted moderate political parties in favor of conservative and radical right-wing movements. 
• By the late 1930s, Hitler apparently had the support of a considerable majority of the population, in large measure because his policies successfully brought Germany out of the Depression. 

Self Guided Research

The economics side of fascism is quite interesting. Fascism does not believe in the idea of a market as the main goal is to have no real market.  Everyone was employed by the government. All work including the public works were done by government workers, as the jobs were done using steep taxes and borrowed money. 

Conservatives are people that wish to use the church and property to maintain social order. Fascists although consumed by tradition, they may eliminate items that are a threat to the tradition or a threat to the extreme nationalism of a country. Fascists can be defined as revolutionaries because it was a new way of thinking but also being able to preserve traditional values. It is a nation to become fascist because it does take a charismatic leader. 

Own Thoughts

There are fascist tendencies however it is not like in history. Nationalism is increasing in countries and there are already countries that live under dictatorships however our country is not run that way. Fascism is very extreme and calls for the extreme measures. Many people will say that the current president of the United States is fascist and many conservatives are fascist because of their beliefs on policy and economics. For example, the hatred of communism is displayed in America but it was also displayed in Nazi Germany. Communism has been hated but Fascism wishes to eliminate the market, as opposed to conservatives that wish for a free market with little to no regulation. Americans, and many countries have not given up their sense of individualism, or in fact, current president has not denied anyone to continue living their individual lives. Although there is high priority for Americans, and the president constantly shames people from Latin American countries or Spanish speaking countries, to which I would say is very wrong considering that our economic standing depends on them and their hard working efforts. I would not say that the president would plan a genocide, but he is wrong on the way he speaks and his perspective on immigration. Lastly, I would not say that the president advocates for violence to solve any kind of gridlock, much less is violence called for when there is problem. There are social injustices that use violence when unnecessary, but it is not encouraged, in fact it is heavily discouraged but the American public.