Lesson Four: Fascism- Also Rejecting Classical Liberalism
5. Conclusion
Fascists proposed that individuals should not be treated as equals, because they believed that some people are weaker than others. They also embraced the idea that humans and nations are in competition with one another for survival. Fascism, which arose in opposition to liberalism and communism, emphasizes the importance of the state and proposes that individuals sacrifice their self-interests for the good of the state. An extreme and militaristic nationalism was key to fascism, sometimes leading the way to genocide. Loss of individual rights is enforced by a dictatorial state led by a dictator exerting total control over people's political and economic lives. The rise of fascism in the 20th century is, in part, a response to the belief that liberalism was unable to address the needs of citizens in times of suffering after the First World War and during the Great Depression.
Hitler and Mussolini
Now that you have finished learning about ideologies that developed in response to classical liberalism you might enjoy this:
Socialism |
If you have two cows, you give one to your neighbor. |
|---|---|
| Communism | If you have two cows, you have to take care of them but the government gets all the milk. |
| Fascism | If you have two cows, you keep the cows and give the milk to the government; then the government sells you some of the milk. |
| New Dealism | If you have two cows, you shoot one and milk the other; then you pour the milk down the drain. |
| Nazism | If you have two cows, the government shoots you and keeps the cows. |
| Capitalism aka Classical liberalism (where it all started) |
If you have two cows, you sell one and buy a bull. |
