(fascism) A far-right nationalist ideology and movement with a totalitarian and hierarchical structure, diametrically opposed to democracy and liberalism. The term originates in ancient Rome, in which the power of the state was symbolized by fasciae - bundles of rods tied together (which meant the unity of the people) with an ax protruding from the bundle (meaning leadership). This symbol served as Mussolini's emblem for the movement that he brought to power in Italy in 1922. Later, however, this name became common for a number of movements that arose in Europe between the two world wars. These movements include: the National Socialists in Germany, the Action Francaise in France, the Arrow Cross in Hungary, and the Falangists in Spain. In the post-war period, the term was often used with the prefix "neo" in relation to those who are considered to be followers of the above movements. These include, in particular, the Italian Social Movement (renamed National Alliance in 1994), the Republican Party in Germany, the National Front in France and the Falange in Spain, as well as Peronism (Peronism) and, more recently, movements that have arisen in post-communist countries, such as "Memory" in Russia. So, with such a variety of movements, is it possible to speak of one meaning of this term? Purely fascist ideologies can be classified as follows. From the point of view of structure, monistic ones stand out among them, based on the idea of ​​unconditional fundamental and most essential truths about humanity and the environment; simplistic, attributing the occurrence of complex phenomena to common causes and offering common solutions; fundamentalist, connected with the division of the world into "bad" and "good" without any intermediate forms, and conspiratorial, proceeding from the fact that there is a secret large-scale conspiracy of certain hostile forces that intend to manipulate the masses to achieve and / or maintain their dominance. From the point of view of content, fascist ideologies differ in five main positions: 1) extreme nationalism (nationalism), the belief that there is a pure nation that has its own features, culture and interests that are distinctive from other nations and surpasses all other nations; 2) such a conclusion is usually accompanied by the assertion that this nation is going through a period of decline, but once, in the mythical past, it was great, with harmonious socio-political relations, and itself dominated others, but later lost its internal unity, broke up and fell into in dependence on other, less significant nations; 3) the process of national decline is often associated with a decrease in the level of racial purity of the nation. Some movements tend to approach the nation as something that coincides in time and space with the race (nation race), others recognize the hierarchy of races within which there are nations (race nation). In almost all cases the loss of purity is considered to be the weakening of the race, and ultimately the cause of its present predicament; 4) the decline of the nation and/or intermarriage is blamed on a conspiracy of other nations or races believed to be in a desperate struggle for dominance; 5) in this struggle, both capitalism and its political shell - liberal democracy - are considered only as ingenious means of splitting the nation and its further subordination to the world order. As regards the basic demands of these ideologies, chief among them is the re-creation of the nation as an objective reality by restoring its purity. The second requirement is the restoration of the dominant position of the nation through the restructuring of the state structure, economy and society. The means of achieving these goals in different cases include: 1) the construction of an authoritarian, anti-liberal state, in which one party plays a dominant role; 2) full control of this party over political organization, information and nationalization; 3) state management of labor resources and the sphere of consumption in order to build a productive and self-sufficient economy; 4) the presence of a charismatic leader who would be able to clothe in flesh and blood the "real" interests of the nation and mobilize the masses. If these important goals are achieved, the nation will be able to regain its lost dominance, even, if necessary, by military means. Similar goals in the period between the two world wars were characteristic of fascist movements, which engaged in racial and ethnic cleansing with particular zeal, established totalitarian political systems and dictatorships, built a productive economy, and, of course, unleashed wars in order to gain world domination. However, such parties can no longer openly propagate such extremist ideas. Positions have been revised. The struggle for the purity of the nation and race now results in opposition to the incessant migration and demands for the repatriation of foreigners; the demand for totalitarianism and dictatorship was replaced by less harsh proposals for a significant strengthening of state power, allegedly within the framework of democracy; the prerogative of the production of goods was replaced by state intervention in the economic sphere, and military prowess was almost completely forgotten. Post-war movements with similar ideologies are commonly referred to as neo-fascist.

In a narrow sense, fascism is an ideological and political movement in Italy in the 1920s–40s. The founder of Italian fascism was the journalist Benito Mussolini, who was expelled from the Socialist Party in 1914 for propaganda of war. In March 1919, he united his supporters, among whom there were many front-line soldiers who were disappointed in the current government, in the “Union of Struggle” - “fascio di combattimento”.

A significant contribution to the formation of fascism as an ideology was made by representatives of futurism, a specific trend in art and literature of the early 20th century, completely denying the cultural achievements of the past, glorifying war and destruction as a means of rejuvenating the decrepit world (F. T. Marinetti and others).

One of Mussolini's predecessors was the writer Gabriel d'Annunzio. The meaning of the ideology of fascism is to recognize the right of the Italian nation to excel in Europe and the world due to the fact that the inhabitants of the Apennine Peninsula come from the descendants of the Romans, and the Italian kingdom is the successor of the Roman Empire.

Fascism proceeds from the concept of the nation as an eternal and supreme reality based on the community of blood. In unity with the nation, according to the fascist doctrine, the individual, through self-denial, sacrifice by private interests, realizes a "purely spiritual being." According to Mussolini, “for a fascist, nothing human or spiritual exists, and even more so has no value outside the state. In this sense, fascism is totalitarian.”

The Italian state became totalitarian (the term of the "Duce" himself - it. "Duke", "leader", as the dictator was officially called) when B. Mussolini came to power. In 1922, with his numerous Blackshirt supporters, lined up in thousands of columns, he carried out the famous campaign against Rome. By a majority of votes, the Parliament handed him power in the country. But the transition to a totalitarian state, where all spheres of society are controlled by the authorities, Mussolini managed to carry out only 4 years later. He banned all parties except the fascist one, declared the Great Fascist Council the supreme legislative body of the country, abolished democratic freedoms, and stopped the activities of trade unions.

In relations with the outside world, Mussolini pursued an aggressive policy. Back in 1923, his government captured the island of Corfu after the bombardment. When the like-minded Duce A. Hitler came to power in Germany, Mussolini, feeling supported, carried out aggression against the African state of Ethiopia.

Italian military formations took part in the war of the Francoists against Republican Spain and in the hostilities on the territory of the USSR as part of the Nazi army. After the invasion of American and British troops into Sicily, and then into mainland Italy, in 1943 the government of King Victor Emmanuel III capitulated, the Great Fascist Council voted against Mussolini, and the king ordered his arrest. Hitler, having sent his paratroopers, released the Duce, who was under arrest, and returned him to the post of head of the “Italian Social Republic” (“Republic of Salo”), the part of Northern Italy occupied by the Germans.

It was at this time that in the formation led by Mussolini, repressions against the Jews unfolded, although they did not reach mass anti-Semitic actions, unlike Germany and other states of the fascist bloc (Romania, Hungary, Croatia), as well as the territories of Poland and the Soviet Union occupied by the Nazis. On April 27, 1945, Benito Mussolini and his mistress were captured by members of the Italian Resistance and shot the next day.

The ideology of fascism turned out to be unviable even during the life of its creator. Mussolini's dream of recreating the "Roman Empire" collided with the inability of the Italian people to state-building. The ideas of the corporate state have been implemented in other countries.

In many postulates, fascism is close to German National Socialism, as a result of which both doctrines are often identified. Usually, all the horrors of fascism are associated with the policy of genocide pursued by A. Hitler.

According to various estimates, more than 20 million people were killed in the occupied territories by the German fascists with the help of concentration camps and mass atrocities. (mainly Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Jews, Gypsies, Poles, etc.).

Fascism as an ideology was condemned by an international tribunal at the Nuremberg trials, and until now the legislation of many countries provides for criminal liability for propaganda of fascism.

The term "fascist" was also applied to the Salazar regime in Portugal, Franco's dictatorship in Spain.

Fascism relies on a totalitarian political party (“a powerful organization of an active minority”), which, after coming to power (usually by force), becomes a state-monopoly organization, as well as on the unquestioned authority of the leader (Duce, Fuhrer). Fascist regimes and movements make extensive use of demagogy, populism, slogans of socialism, imperial sovereignty, and apologetics for war.

Fascism finds support in conditions of national crises. Many features of fascism are inherent in various social and national movements of the right and left, as well as some modern state regimes that base their ideology and state policy on the principle of national intolerance (modern Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Ukraine, etc.).

Thus, about 200 thousand Russian-speaking residents of Estonia are deprived of civil rights, discriminated against on a national basis and vegetate in the position of second-class people. Active anti-Russian propaganda is going on in the country, aimed at instilling hatred for Russians in ethnic Estonians, as well as a large-scale campaign to rehabilitate Nazi criminals.

According to a number of features (leaderism, totalitarianism, national, class, racial intolerance), some Russian political movements can also be classified as fascist, including the NBP (see National Bolsheviks), RNE, and the skinhead movement.

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

What is fascism? This is the collective name of ideologies, extreme right political currents and the principle of dictatorial type of government that corresponds to them. Fascism, as defined above, is characterized by chauvinism, xenophobia, mystical leaderism, anti-communism, militaristic nationalism, contempt for liberalism and electoral democracy, belief in a natural social hierarchy and the rule of the elite, statism, and in some cases genocide.

Etymology, definition of the concept

The word "fascism" in translation from Italian "fascio" means "union". For example, the political party of B. Mussolini, distinguished by its radical views, was called the "Union of Struggle" (Fascio di combattimento). The word "fascio", in turn, comes from the Latin "fascis", which translates as "bundle" or "bundle". In ancient times, it was used to designate a symbol of the power of a magistrate - a fascia (a bundle of rods with an ax stuck in it), which was a characteristic sign of lictors - the guard of honor of the highest magistrates of the Romans. At the same time, the fascia gave its owner the right to use force on behalf of the entire people, and even carry out the death penalty. The image of a bunch of rods with an ax can now be seen even on the emblem belonging to the Federal Bailiff Service of the Russian Federation. In addition, fascias are present in the symbols of power in many states of the world.

What is fascism in the narrow historical sense? This is a mass movement of a political nature. It existed in the 1920s - 1940s. In what country did fascism originate? In Italy.

With regard to world historiography, fascism is also understood as ultra-right political trends in third world countries, the Portuguese regime of the New State, Francoism.

What is fascism, if we consider this phenomenon through the prism of the historiography of the CIS countries, the Russian Federation and the USSR? In addition to all of the above, it is also German National Socialism.

Currently, there are at least four directions of interpretation of the phenomenon under consideration:

Standard Soviet definition;

Fascism as a Western form of extremism;

The interpretation of the term, including the widest range of nationalist and authoritarian trends;

Definition of fascism as right-wing conservative revolutionism.

In addition, fascism, the definition of which we consider in detail, is interpreted by some authors as a pathological deviation in the individual and / or public consciousness, which has psychophysiological roots.

As the American philosopher Hana Arendt noted, the main sign of this phenomenon should be considered the formation of a cult of hatred for an external or internal enemy, fueled by a powerful propaganda machine, if necessary resorting to lies in order to ensure the desired effect.

Specific traits

Under the fascist regime, there is a strengthening of the regulatory functions of the state, not only in the economy, but also in ideology. At the same time, the ruling elite actively creates a system of public associations and mass organizations, initiates violent methods of suppressing dissent, and does not accept the principles of political and economic liberalism. The main features of fascism are as follows:

Statism;

Nationalism;

Traditionalism;

Extremism;

Militarism;

Corporatism;

anti-communism;

anti-liberalism;

Some features of populism.

Often leaderism;

Statements that the main support is the broad masses of the people who do not belong to the ruling class.

I. V. Mazurov expressed his thoughts about what fascism is. He noted the following: it is wrong to compare this phenomenon with authoritarianism, since it is exclusively totalitarianism.

origins

In which country did fascism originate? In Italy. The course for an authoritarian nationalist policy was taken in 1922 by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. He was the son of a blacksmith, a former socialist, who bore the official title "Duce" (translated from Italian as "leader"). Mussolini remained in power until 1943. All this time the dictator put his nationalistic ideas into practice.

In 1932, he first published The Doctrine of Fascism. It could be read in the fourteenth volume of Enciclopedia Italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti. The doctrine served as an introduction to an article entitled "Fascism". In his work, Mussolini reported disappointment in past courses, including in socialism (despite the fact that he was an active supporter of it for a long period). The dictator called for the search for new ideas, convincing everyone that if the nineteenth century was a period of individualism, then the twentieth will be the era of collectivism, and therefore the state.

Mussolini tried for a long time to derive a recipe for popular happiness. In the process, he formulated the following provisions:

Fascist ideas about the state are all-encompassing. Outside this current, there simply are no human or spiritual values. Fascism interprets, develops and directs all human activity.

It is not worth discounting the reasons for the emergence and development of the trade union movement and socialism. A certain importance should be attached to the corporate structure of the state, in which the current government is responsible for coordinating and harmonizing divergent interests.

Fascism is the absolute opposite of liberalism in both economics and politics.

The state must manage all areas of the life of the people through corporate, social and educational institutions.

Fascism is unacceptable in Russia. That is why in June 2010 the specified work of Mussolini was recognized as extremist. An appropriate decision was made in the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa about this.

Features of ideology

In which country did fascism originate? In Italy. It was there that the ideas about the denial of democratic values, about the superiority of one nation over all the others, about the establishment of the cult of the leader, about the justification of terror and violence in order to suppress dissidents, and also about the fact that war is a normal means of resolving interstate disputes, were first voiced. Nazism and fascism go hand in hand in this regard. The former is only one of many varieties of the latter.

National Socialism (Nazism) is the official political ideology of the Third Reich. Her idea was to idealize the Aryan race. For this, elements of social democracy, racism, anti-Semitism, chauvinism, social Darwinism, the principles of "racial hygiene" and the principles of democratic socialism were used.

Nazism and fascism were based on the theory of racial hygiene. According to it, people were divided into representatives of the so-called superior race and inferior elements. The need to make an appropriate selection was proclaimed. The ideology of fascism cultivated the idea that the existence of true Aryans must be supported by all means. At the same time, the reproduction of all unwanted people had to be prevented. According to fascist principles, people suffering from epilepsy, alcoholism, dementia and hereditary diseases were subjected to mandatory forced sterilization.

The idea of ​​expanding the "living space" was especially widespread. They were realized through military expansion.

Germany

The organizational base of the first fascist party was formed in 1921. It was based on the "Fuhrer-principle", which assumed the unlimited power of the leader. The main goals of the formation of this party were the following: the maximum spread of fascist ideology, the preparation of a special terrorist apparatus capable of suppressing the forces of democrats and anti-fascists, and, of course, the subsequent seizure of power.

Fascism in Germany in 1923 moved to a new level. Adherents of the ideology under consideration made the first direct attempt to seize state power. This event is known in history as the "Beer Putsch". Then the plans of the Nazis failed. For this reason, the tactics of the struggle for power were adjusted. In 1925, the so-called battle for the Reichstag began and the mass base of the fascist party was formed. Three years later, the changed tactics brought the first serious results. The result of the work was the receipt of twelve seats in the Reichstag. And in 1932, the fascist party was in the absolute majority in terms of the number of mandates.

On January 30, 1933, the history of fascism was replenished with another important fact: Adolf Hitler was entrusted with the post of Reich Chancellor of the country. He came to power in the status of head of the coalition government. Hitler was supported by various sections of society. He managed to build the broadest social base thanks to those people who, after the defeat of Germany in the war, simply left the ground from under their feet. The huge aggressive crowd felt cheated. Along with the property, the majority of the population of the country lost their life prospects. In such a situation, Hitler skillfully took advantage of the psychological and political disorder of the people. He promised various social strata exactly what they most needed at that time: workers - employment and bread, monarchists - the restoration of the desired way of life, industrialists - enough military orders, the Reichswehr - strengthening positions in connection with updated military plans. The inhabitants of the country much more liked the nationalist appeals of the Nazis, and not the social democratic or communist slogans.

When German fascism began to dominate the country, there was not just a change of cabinet. All institutions of the state of the bourgeois-parliamentary type, as well as all democratic achievements, began to systematically collapse. A terrorist anti-people regime began to be built. At first, anti-fascist demonstrations were actively held, but they were quickly suppressed.

The movement in question reached its apogee during the Second World War. During that period, eleven million people objectionable to the regime were killed in fascist camps. The Soviet Union is given the leading role in the destruction of the cruel system.

The liberation of Europe from fascism

In order to throw off Nazi bonds from the occupied states, in 1944 and 1945 the Soviet armed forces successfully carried out several major strategic offensive operations. Troops from eleven fronts took direct part in them. In addition, four fleets, fifty combined arms, six tank and thirteen air armies were involved. No lesser contribution was made by three armies and one air defense front. The number of fighters involved reached 6.7 million people. In the same period, anti-fascist national movements were strengthening, not only in the occupied countries, but even in Germany.

Finally, the long-awaited second front opened on European territory. The Nazis, squeezed in the vise of active hostilities, were rapidly losing strength for further resistance. However, the main part of the shock troops was still concentrated on the line of the Soviet-German front, which was the main one. From August 1944 to May 1945, the largest offensive operations were carried out. They played a decisive role in the liberation of European states from fascist invaders. As a result, the Soviet army partially or completely cleared the territory of ten countries in Europe and two in Asia from the enemy. Two hundred million people, including Bulgarians, Romanians, Hungarians, Poles, Yugoslavs, Czechoslovaks, Austrians, Danes, Germans, Koreans and Chinese, got rid of the enemy.

Millions of people fought and gave their lives so that the propaganda of fascism would never again sound from the stands, in order to wipe out the remnants of a bloody dictatorship, misanthropic ideology, Nazism and racism from the face of the earth. This goal was achieved in 1945.

Millions dead

Every year on the second Sunday of September, the Russian Federation celebrates the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Fascism. In most countries of the world, those who died at the hands of bloody ideologists are honored. This day was established in 1962. The main goal with which the victims of fascism are regularly remembered is to prevent the re-spread of fascist or other misanthropic ideas.

The current state of affairs

It is believed that fascism is reincarnated today in some Western states. This is explained by the need of large capitals to obtain inexpensive labor and new raw materials through the seizure of Western European territories. In this regard, the ruling coalitions of both the States and the European Union do not prevent the revival of fascist traditions that bear hatred for the Russian world.

It is noteworthy that the ambiguity in the discussion of the phenomenon under consideration is still observed. The concept of fascism is recognized as one of the key in the twentieth century. It has its own history and, undoubtedly, influenced the course of modern history.

If we take into account the multitude of fascist movements and regimes, the predominance of the assertion that there is no single theory about the emergence of this direction becomes clear. To clearly define the phenomenon under study, we outline the main features of fascism: it is an ideology based on chauvinist, anti-socialist, anti-liberal and conservative views. Occult, mythological anti-Semitic and romantic ideas, coupled with elements of militant political culture, are of particular importance. Fertile ground for the emergence of fascist parties are capitalist systems and societies that are in the so-called transitional stage. At the same time, such trends do not develop within the limits of socialism.

The study of fascism in its classical sense has now reached a phase of balance, synthesis and systematization. However, this cannot be said about the studies of modern trends - right-wing extremism and fascism. The process is significantly complicated by complete chaos in the subject distinction and terminology. At the same time, a variety of concepts are used, including neo-Nazism, neo-fascism, right-wing populism, extremism ...

Past and present

What is the difference between the views of classical fascists and modern European far right? Let's try to answer this difficult question. So, fascism is characterized by an authoritarian nationalism that stands up for the protection of the corporate-estate version of petty-bourgeois capitalism. He controls the militarist party and the armed units. An invariable attribute is a charismatic leader. As for the current ultra-right, they sharply criticize cosmopolitanism and talk about the decline of modern society, they also do not allow mixing of races and peoples, they cultivate the myth of the enlightenment tradition. The basic ideological samples presented above are generously flavored with local prejudices and coloring.

Fascism is still unreasonably dangerous for a civilized society. Despite the fact that it was originally an Italian-German-Japanese project, many other states were infected with similar ideas. Information about the Second World War eloquently confirms this.

As we well know from school history books, the Germans are responsible for the extermination of six million Jewish people. Other peoples also suffered, but they are usually remembered less often. At the same time, society is not sufficiently informed that representatives of some nations, inspired by bloody ideas, not only helped the fascists realize their terrible mission, but also achieved their own gloomy political goals under their protection. Not everyone today can openly say that a certain part of Ukrainians, Latvians, Hungarians, Estonians, Lithuanians, Croats and Romanians were directly involved in the most cruel atrocities. To confirm this fact, it is enough to turn to history. Thus, for Croats, fascism became a widely supported national idea and the basis for the formation of a political course. The same can be said about Estonians.

It is an indisputable fact that the Holocaust would not have been realized without Hitler, Himmler and some other Germans. Nevertheless, according to the Hamburg historian M. Wild, they would not have been able to destroy a great many European Jews on their own. To this end, they undoubtedly received serious assistance from outside.

USA left out

Fascism in Russia is an unambiguously negative phenomenon. He is being fought at different levels. However, not all players in the world political arena support the desire to eradicate bloody ideas.

On December 23, 2010, the plenipotentiaries of the Russian Federation presented the Resolution in the UN General Assembly. This document called for a fight against the glorification of fascism. The resolution was supported by 129 countries. And only America opposed its signing. There were no comments from the media and US officials on this matter.

Conclusion

In the above article, we answered the question of which country fascism originated in. In addition, the characteristic features of this phenomenon, the features of ideology and the consequences of the influence of misanthropic ideas on the course of world history were considered.

"fascism"

The content of the article:

• Fascism in different countries
• Fascism today
• Video

The word fascism, translated from Italian, briefly sounds like a union or association, and a fascist, respectively, is an adherent of fascism. The form of government is a dictatorship. The history of fascism dates back to the ancient Romans.
In the modern world, fascism is a political movement, as well as a form of power, that originated in Italy at the beginning of the last century. Later, this movement began to spread to other countries, such as in Germany during the rule of the state of Adolf Hitler. Fascism is characterized by the principles of leadership, partisanship, and most importantly - violence.

Fascism and racism: what do they have in common

Science does not give one common opinion about the commonality of racism and fascism. Some scientists believe that fascism made a bias in the superiority of the nation, not the race. Therefore, these two concepts were not identified. The second point of view has become more widespread in the modern world. If fascism is a kind of doctrine of a higher man, then racism harmoniously fits into this concept. Scholars theorize that this political movement, which originated in Italy, was much closer to racism than is commonly thought.

Fascism: main features and common features of fascist associations

The main feature of fascism is the strong role of the state in regulating all spheres of society. Fascism does not tolerate dissent and completely subjugates itself, using violent methods. Varieties of fascism include traditionalism, often leaderism, nationalism, anti-communism, extremism, and so on.
Fascism, for the most part, is born in states with an economic crisis leading to social and political crises. The Nazis used styles that were not characteristic of those times. All of them were mass events. Also, the masculine character of the party was emphasized, in a sense, the secularization of religiosity, unconditional approval and the widespread use of violence in resolving political conflicts.

Fascism includes some moments from anti-socialism, anti-capitalism and anti-modernism. Nationalism was one of the foundations of this movement. However, small fascist movements had to reckon with the ideology of other similar movements. Thus, it turns out that, despite their nationalistic ideology, they had to accept the ideals of foreign models. Subsequently, both the right and left movements of Nazism began to fight against this.
The Nazis brutally destroyed their political enemies. Randomly selected minority parties also fell under their reprisals.

Fascism in different countries

Briefly - fascism, and more thoroughly - the doctrine of Benitto Mussolini. He believed that the state should represent the power of corporations. In Italy, fascism originated in the 10s of the last century. Mussolini, having come to power, established a dictatorship. In his book "La Dottrina del Fascismo", the leader of the movement equated the word "fascism" with the system of government and this word had the meaning of "ideology".
Then fascism spread in Germany. The leader of the National Socialist Party was Adolf Hitler, who planned the seizure of European lands through the Blitzkrieg plan.

Hitler was inspired by Mussolini. The leader of German fascism himself claimed that the Italian ideology became the basis for the formation of the Nazi Party in Germany. The connection between German and Italian fascism was, for example, in anti-Semitism. The German fascists have advanced further than all like-minded people towards advancing towards their goal. The Blitzkrieg plan, which promised territorial expansion, nevertheless failed.

During the existence of German fascism, Romania formed its own party of Nazism (1927-1941).
In 1934, the Second Spanish Republic emerged in Spain. This gave impetus to the beginning of Spanish fascism. The leader was Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera.

In 1928, the Catholic Church supported the rise to power of Oliveira Salazar. His dictatorial power lasted for about 40 years, until Oliveira fell ill and stopped ruling the country. He retired. Marcelo Caetano, who became the leader of Spain, put an end to the fascist regime. The new state, led by Oliveira Salazar, became the longest lasting fascist regime ever.

Fascist ideology in Brazil was called integralism. The founder was Plinu Salgado. Integralism absorbed some features of Italian fascism. But, Brazilian fascists differed from European ones in that they did not promote racism. This movement accepted even blacks into its ranks.

In Russia, fascism became widespread before the start of World War II (30s - 40s of the XX century). Russian fascism took its inspiration from Italian Nazism. The founders were white emigrants who settled in Germany, Manchuria and the USA. Russian fascism took its name from the "Black Hundred" and "White Movement" movements. They did not pursue an active policy (except for white emigrants from Manchuria). The only thing they did was anti-Semitic. During the implementation of the Blitzkrieg plan, the Russian fascists were on the side of the invaders.

In the period from the 20s to the mid-50s of the XX century, mainly in Western Ukraine, there was the OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists). The main ideology was protection from the influence of Poland and the Soviet Union. It was planned to create an independent state. The composition was to include the lands of Poland, the Soviet Union, Romania and Czechoslovakia. That is, the territories where Ukrainians lived. It was with these goals that they justified their terror. The activities of the OUN had a character: anti-Soviet, anti-Polish and anti-communist. Historians not only equate the OUN with Italian fascism, but also argue that the former are more extremist.

In the history of some countries, there are movements that are similar to the ideology of fascism, but they are in no hurry to unite with the fascists. These movements are mainly anti-liberal or anti-communist. They use the methods of fascism, but do not set themselves the goal of creating a superior nation. For example, parafascism. This regime is authoritarian.

Fascism today

Today in Russia there is such a thing as neo-Nazism. It lies in the adherence to Nazi symbols, anti-Semitism and racism.

Neo-Nazism can be both individual and organized. When organized, neo-Nazism is an extreme form. In the media, you can see reports related to the crimes of neo-Nazis. He can also reach anti-Christian and anti-Abrahamic views.
Adherents of neo-Nazism differ in their musical preferences. Basically it is rock music or patriotic songs performed with a guitar.

The symbols of neo-Nazis are of different types. It can be the flag of the Russian Empire, the symbols of the Third Reich, Russian symbols, Nazi symbols in general, pagan (pseudo-pagan) or their own symbols.

It is worth noting that fascist symbols today can be used as a certain type, or combined. Attributes with symbols of neo-Nazism are purchased, for the most part, through online stores. In them you can buy jewelry (rings, watches, bracelets), knives and read items with symbols.
A feature of the neo-Nazi movement in Russia is that its members adhere to the rules of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
According to representatives of this movement, power, television and the economy are not in the hands of the Slavic people. They advocate racial purity in these industries.

The use of symbols of different types leads to conflicts among themselves.
In the US, there is such a thing as neo-fascism. During the Second World War, the United States actively fought against the Nazis, and now this movement quietly exists among the Americans. In the current political environment, there is an opinion that neo-fascists are being set up against Russia. The United States has released post-war documents linking Americans to the Nazis. The purpose of this cooperation was to unite against the Soviet Union. The deterioration of political relations between the United States and the USSR was partly due to the cooperation of the United States authorities with the Nazis.

Despite the fact that the USSR fought the fascists with all its might, in Latvia Russians were and are still called occupiers. Latvians glorify the Nazis as heroes. The destruction of Soviet monuments, the renaming of streets and the destruction of the Russian language in the country take place regularly. And all this is happening despite the fact that Russian-speaking citizens live in Latvia.

Lithuanian history textbooks inspire children that Lithuanians fully supported the German army, thereby freeing themselves from the oppression of the Soviet Union. The same opinion is shared by the Estonian ruling circles.
As is known from history, Ukraine has always been secretly divided into Western and Eastern. The mass spread of neo-fascism in Ukraine took place and is taking place in its western part. During the Second World War, this part of Ukrainians supported the Nazis. Today, the situation is developing in such a way that Ukraine has begun its split again. The Russian-speaking population is oppressed. Can mass oppression be called fascism? The people themselves, living on the territory of eastern Ukraine, consider the political methods of the country's leadership as the beginnings of fascism. The civil war today indirectly speaks of the same.

The word fascism is strongly associated with Nazi Germany. However, the head of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, did not profess fascism, but National Socialism. While many provisions coincide, there are significant differences and even contradictions between the two ideologies.

A fine line

Today, any movement that is extremely radical in nature, declaring nationalist slogans, is usually called a manifestation of fascism. The word fascist, in fact, has become a stamp, having lost its original meaning. This is not surprising, since the two most dangerous totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century - fascism and National Socialism - were in close contact for a long time, exerting a noticeable influence on each other.

Indeed, there is much in common between them - chauvinism, totalitarianism, leaderism, lack of democracy and pluralism of opinions, reliance on a one-party system and punitive bodies. National socialism is often called one of the manifestations of fascism. The German Nazis willingly adapted some elements of fascism on their soil, in particular, the Nazi salute is a copy of the so-called Roman salute.

With the widespread confusion of concepts and principles that guided Nazism and fascism, it is not so easy to identify differences between them. But before doing this, we need to dwell on the origin of the two ideologies.

Fascism

The word fascism has Italian roots: "fascio" in Russian sounds like "union".
This word, for example, was in the name of the political party of Benito Mussolini - Fascio di combattimento (Union of Struggle). "Fascio" in turn goes back to the Latin word "fascis", which translates as "bundle" or "bundle".

Fasces - bunches of elm or birch rods tied with a red cord or tied with straps - were a kind of attribute of the power of the ancient Roman kings or masters in the era of the Republic. Initially, they symbolized the right of the authorities to achieve their decisions by the use of force. According to some versions, the fasciae were indeed an instrument of corporal punishment, and, together with the ax, the death penalty.

The ideological roots of fascism date back to the 1880s in the Fin de siècle (French for "end of the century"), characterized by a rush between euphoria for change and eschatological fear of the future. The intellectual basis of fascism was largely prepared by the works of Charles Darwin (biology), Richard Wagner (aesthetics), Arthur de Gobineau (sociology), Gustave Le Bon (psychology) and Friedrich Nietzsche (philosophy).

At the turn of the century, a number of works appeared that professed the doctrine of the superiority of an organized minority over a disorganized majority, the legitimacy of political violence, and radicalized the concepts of nationalism and patriotism. This leads to the emergence of political regimes seeking to strengthen the regulatory role of the state, violent methods of suppressing dissent, rejection of the principles of economic and political liberalism.

In many countries, such as Italy, France, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Japan, Argentina, fascist movements declare themselves in full voice. They profess similar principles: authoritarianism, social Darwinism, elitism, while defending anti-socialist and anti-capitalist positions.

In its purest form, the doctrine of fascism as the power of a corporate state was expressed by the Italian leader Benito Mussolini, who understood this word not only as a system of state administration, but also as an ideology. In 1924, the National Fascist Party of Italy (Partito Nazionale Fascista) received a parliamentary majority, and since 1928 it has become the only legal party in the country.

national socialism

This movement, known as Nazism, became the official political ideology in the Third Reich. It is often seen as a kind of fascism with elements of pseudo-scientific racism and anti-Semitism, which was expressed in the concept of "German fascism", by analogy with Italian or Japanese fascism.

German political scientist Manuel Sarkisyants writes that Nazism is not a German invention. The philosophy of Nazism and the theory of dictatorship were formulated in the middle of the 19th century by the Scottish historian and publicist Thomas Carlyle. “Like Hitler, Carlyle never changed his hatred, his contempt for the parliamentary system,” says Sarkisyants. “Like Hitler, Carlyle always believed in the saving virtue of dictatorship.”

The main goal for German National Socialism was to build and establish a “pure state” on the widest possible geographical area, in which the main role would be assigned to representatives of the Aryan race, which had everything necessary for a prosperous existence.

The National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) was in power in Germany from 1933 to 1945. Hitler often emphasized the importance of Italian fascism, which influenced the formation of Nazi ideology. He gave a special place to the March on Rome (the procession of Italian fascists in 1922, which contributed to the rise of Mussolini), which became an inspiration for German radicals.

The ideology of German Nazism was based on the principle of uniting the doctrines of Italian fascism around National Socialist ideas, where the absolute state of Mussolini would be transformed into a society with a eugenic doctrine of race.

So close but different

According to Mussolini, the main provisions of the fascist doctrine are the doctrine of the state, its essence, tasks and goals. For the ideology of fascism, the state is an absolute - an indisputable authority and the highest authority. All individuals or social groups are inconceivable without the state.

More clearly, this idea is indicated in the slogan that Mussolini proclaimed in his speech to the Chamber of Deputies on May 26, 1927: "Everything in the state, nothing against the state and nothing outside the state."

The attitude of the National Socialists towards the state was fundamentally different. For the ideologists of the Third Reich, the state is "only a means to preserve the people." In the long term, National Socialism did not aim to maintain the structure of the state, but sought to reorganize it into public institutions.

The state in National Socialism was seen as an intermediate stage in building an ideal, racially pure society. Here one can see some analogy with the ideas of Marx and Lenin, who considered the state a transitional form on the way to building a classless society.

The second stumbling block between the two systems is the national and racial issue. For the fascists, a corporate approach in solving national problems was extremely important in this respect. Mussolini declared that “race is a feeling, not a reality; 95% feeling." Moreover, Mussolini tried to avoid this word whenever possible, replacing it with the concept of nation. It was the Italian nation that was for the Duce a source of pride and an incentive for its further exaltation.

Hitler called the concept of "nation" "obsolete and empty", despite the presence of this word in the name of his party. The German leaders resolved the national question through a racial approach, literally by mechanically purifying the race and maintaining racial purity by sifting out foreign elements. The racial question is the cornerstone of Nazism.

Fascist ideology in its original sense was alien to racism and anti-Semitism. Although Mussolini admitted that he became a racist back in 1921, he emphasized that there was no imitation of German racism here. “It is necessary that the Italians respect their race,” Mussolini declared his “racist” position.

Moreover, Mussolini repeatedly condemned the eugenic teachings of National Socialism about the purity of the race. In March 1932, in a conversation with the German writer Emil Ludwig, he noted that “to date, there are no completely pure races left in the world. Even the Jews have not escaped confusion."

“Anti-Semitism does not exist in Italy,” the Duce said. And it wasn't just words. While anti-Semitic campaigns were gaining momentum in Italy in Italy, many important positions in universities, banks or the army continued to be held by Jews. It was only from the mid-1930s that Mussolini declared white supremacy in Italy's African colonies and switched to anti-Semitic rhetoric for the sake of an alliance with Germany.

It is important to note that Nazism is not an obligatory component of fascism. Thus, the fascist regimes of Salazar in Portugal, Franco in Spain or Pinochet in Chile were deprived of the theory of racial superiority fundamental to Nazism.