Lesson Four: Fascism- Also Rejecting Classical Liberalism
2. 4.4.1 Fascism and the Rejection of Classical Liberalism
What is fascism? Watch this video and find out!
Guiding Principles of Fascism
Fascism has no single guiding philosophy or founding political theory. Rather, it is based on several powerful ideas as well as the fascist experience of the 20th century. Fascism is totalitarian dictatorship. That is, the government is controlled by a dictator, a person who through force has complete control over the lives of the people.
Go through this powerpoint to learn about how totalitarian dictators stay in power.
Techniques Dictators Use to Stay in Power
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
Mussolini, the Italian fascist dictator, is known as the originator of the political and economic system called fascism. In Italy, Mussolini was referred to in Italian as "Il Duce", meaning "the leader". He led Italy from 1922 to 1943 when he was overthrown. As an ideology, fascism is different from liberalism and communism in several significant ways. The most important values of fascism are unity and power.
The threat of a communist revolution in Italy brought about a harsh reaction from extreme conservative or right wing groups. Benito Mussolini and other ex-soldiers together with dissatisfied nationalists formed the first fascist groups in Italy.
Mussolini and the Italian fascists promoted ultranationalism in Italy with speeches, policies, and media propaganda. Opposition political parties were banned, and any dissent was crushed brutally by the fascists.
"Fascism is definitely and absolutely opposed to the doctrines of liberalism, both in the political and the economic sphere."
Now let's look at the fascist Economic-Political Spectrum Grid
Fascism can be placed on a spectrum grid that shows economic and political individual freedom or government control:
For more information on fascism you can read "Understandings of Fascism" on pages 172-174 of your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies. These pages will further your understanding of the concept of fascist rejection of liberalism.
You should make notes, either on paper or on your computer, about what you have read.