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Title: Fascism Author: Workers Solidarity Movement Date: February 2018 Language: en Topics: fascism, position paper Source: Retrieved on 15th October 2021 from http://www.wsm.ie/c/fascism-anarchism-wsm Notes: Position paper on Fascism as collectively agreed by the February 2018 National Conference. This paper sits under âThe Role of the Anarchist Organisationâ and above âNo Platform for Fascistsâ.
It is important to have a firm understanding of what fascism is beyond
vague generalities about racism and authoritarianism so that we may
correctly spot it and be effective in preventing its success, especially
given that fascist organising requires an emergency response.
Due to its psychological and reactionary nature and its peculiar history
of development. It canât be simply summarised like anarchism or
republicanism can be, rather it is like a device with its pieces hastily
glued and taped together.
Fascism first arose in early 20^(th) century Europe, but has its
antecedents throughout human history. It is always an expression of the
current situation and wonât necessarily re-emerge in the exact same form
as in 1920s/30s Europe, as we are seeing today.
Fascism is as close to the exact opposite of anarchism as is possible.
It is highly mistaken to view fascism as just a form of extreme racism.
It is more about bringing a large number of people together by their
membership of a worthy ingroup and consolidating that with huge state
power.
In the basic sense, it arises as a reaction to changes in society and
presents itself as a force which will overcome those âdegenerateâ
changes. It is sick of modern âdecadenceâ, uppity and promiscuous women,
queers, Jews, and people of colour getting ahead of their station,
intellectuals corrupting the youth, and so on. The domestic âcultureâ
and âcivilisationâ must be defended from outside invaders and the enemy
within.
In the sense of seeking sweeping and immediate changes to society.
âThere is no philosophy of Fascism, but only a psycho-analysisâ. Broadly
speaking it is an emotional reaction to disgrace which seeks to restore
past greatness, whether real or imagined. Bottled up bigotry is made
legitimate with an attitude of âscrew you Iâm not going to take it
anymore and I donât care what anyone thinks!â. That disgrace can relate
to nationality (e.g. Versailles and Germany), gender (cis male),
sexuality (straight), income / class (e.g. unemployed worker, relatively
impoverished middle class). These people position themselves as
oppressed and swindled victims who demand reparations.
Which seeks to overcome alienation, disgrace, and misery, by achieving
heroic heights, by being part of something great â fascism is egotism,
living vicariously through the collective. Fascism seeks simplicity in a
scary and complicated world. It provides community to the ingroup by
turning the state into a religion and the Party into a church. The
individual transcends their own fears and mortality by surrendering to
the collective.
Difference is hated, normality is worshipped. A central task of fascism
is defining what is normal. Unconventional lifestyles are to be
eradicated, along with those with physical or mental disabilities (or
differences deemed to be âdefectsâ).
There is no individual, only the collective and the ruling order. Order
and duty are the chief values, not freedom.
Rises on an outpouring of unthinking emotion. Values action over
reflection, faith over reason. It is not for a person to think for
themselves, but to fulfil the role which has been set for them.
Problems are seen as due to essential traits in people. Rather than
analysing society systematically, it proclaims all social problems are
the result of a moral crisis. The finger is pointed at shady âelitesâ
pulling the strings, but not at hierarchy itself. This moral crisis will
be solved by submitting to a new order which will purify society from
corrupting influences which are perceived as deviant and foreign.
As much as it is racist. Lead by men. It is the political expression of
toxic masculinity, irate because of a disappointed sense of entitlement,
prizing force and militarism, pre-occupied with dominance, despises
weakness, meekness, and sympathy. Traditional gender roles must be
rigidly enforced. The fascist mission always involves putting women back
in the kitchen to be baby-making vessels â this tendency can be seen
today in the âpick up artistsâ and âMenâs Rights Activistsâ who populate
the far-right. Notably trans people are top of the list of targets.
Venerates hierarchy as the natural âlaw of the jungleâ, seeing democracy
as an impotent indulgence. Parliament will be used as a tool at first
but eventually dissolved into dictatorship. This âmeritocraticâ elitist
sensibility makes fascism a good fit with capitalism. Realpolitik is
central, getting the job done rather than dallying about human rights
and due process.
What also distinguishes fascism from parliamentary politcs is it has a
mass street politics with its own poisonous direct action component,
using violence to intimidate and attack those at the wrong end of their
ideology, including attempting to make left political opposition
impossible. Probably this more than anything else distinguishes fascism
and gives it the particular pre-power danger that requires
confrontation.
Because:The left is seen to be emblematic of everything degenerate in
society.The left is the chief competitor of fascists and left ideas and
organising make it harder for fascism to spread.Unions represent an
independent power in society, but under fascism there ought only be the
state.The left stands for egalitarianism and fascists stand for
aristocracy.Fascism can find wealthy backers if they crush unions and
the left.It helps morale to have a sworn political enemy.Historically
this was the case so it persists today.
There is only national and ethnic consciousness, no class consciousness
or human consciousness. The richest and the poorest are supposedly on
the same team despite opposite financial interests. There is no
awareness of a united humanity, only brethren of the nation or race.
The state merges political and economic power, both by the state
asserting its authority over all economic affairs and private power
asserting its influence over the state.
Fascism tends to be highly simplistic and makes it up as it goes along.
Fascist parties will have very crude programmes, centred on vague
notions of purging the nation of corruption and outsiders, achieving
national greatness, and maintaining law and order. Policies will be
adopted on the fly to appease the populace.
Fascism exists within a broader spectrum or ecosystem of far-right
politics. It is impossible to definitively say at exactly what point a
group becomes fascist rather than ultra-nationalists, extreme racist and
sexist authoritarians, right-wing militia men, etc. This problem is
intensified by the fact that fascists take pains for obvious reasons to
hide the fact they are fascists.
within that fascist ecosystem and serve the same agenda, drawing a
broader group of people into the orbit of the far-right and shifting the
discourse towards xenophobia and authoritarianism. Similarly for Donald
Trump, who benefits greatly from the rise of neo-confederates, white
supremacists, neo-Nazis, etc, but has of yet not attempted to seize
absolute state power.
wearing a new hat.