The Personal Website of Mark W. Dawson

Nazism and Fascism

National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), more commonly known as Nazism, is the ideology and practice associated with the 20th-century German Nazi Party and Nazi Germany. Usually characterized as a form of fascism that incorporates scientific racism and antisemitism, Nazism developed out of the influences of Pan-Germanism, the Völkisch German nationalist movement and the anti-communist Freikorps paramilitary groups that emerged during the Weimar Republic after German defeat in World War I. Nazism subscribed to theories of racial hierarchy and Social Darwinism, identifying Germans as part of what Nazis regarded as an Aryan or Nordic master race. It aimed to overcome social divisions and create a homogeneous society, unified on the basis of "racial purity" (Volksgemeinschaft). The Nazis aimed to unite all Germans living in the historically German territory, as well as gain additional lands for German expansion under the doctrine of Lebensraum while excluding those deemed either to be community aliens or belonging to an "inferior" race. The term "National Socialism" arose out of attempts to create a nationalist redefinition of "socialism", as an alternative to both international socialism and free market capitalism. Nazism rejected the Marxist concept of class struggle, opposed cosmopolitan internationalism, and sought to convince all parts of a new German society to subordinate their personal interests to the "common good" and to accept the priority of political interests in economic organization.

Fascism is a form of radical authoritarian nationalism that came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. The first fascist movements emerged in Italy during World War I, before it spread to other European countries. It is best expressed by quotes of its leading proponent, Benito Mussolini:

• "The definition of fascism is the marriage of corporation and state."
• "All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."
• " We do not argue with those who disagree with us, we destroy them."

Today it is common to categorize Nazism and Fascism as a right-wing ideology. But as can be seen from the above definition Nazism and Fascism were based on socialistic premises, which is not right-wing but indeed left-wing. The differences between Communism and Nazism/Fascism were primarily internationalism vs. nationalism. Indeed, the bitter animosity between Communism and Nazism/Fascism was primarily the difference between the internationalism and nationalist orientation. The Communist slogan "Workers of the world unite" is counterpoised to Nazism/Fascism ideology of "Workers of Germany/Italy unite". The political, social, and economic policy differences between Communism and Nazism/Fascism were a matter of scope and depth.Thus, it can be seen that Nazism/Fascism ideology is left-wing - not right-wing.

Much, if not all, of the rise of Nazism and Fascism can be attributed to the theory of “Mass Formation” as explained in a new book by Mattias Desmet, “The Psychology of Totalitarianism”. In this book he examines how the psychological forces of the individual and the mob that were and are in play in the recent past and today’s world stage led and leads us into totalitarianism. For those interested in a fuller explanation of mass formation my article, “Modern Totalitarianism”, recaps the different sections of this book and my commentary on these sections.

Today, In America, we have seen a rise in Fascism as I have written in my Article, “Modern American Fascism”. And this Fascism has evolved into slightly different characteristics of Political Tribalism, Controlled Economy, Anti-Individualism, Anti-Constitutionalism, Disruption and Violence, and limited Free Speech and controlled Free Assembly. Modern fascism does not want to be confused or confronted by the facts, they only want what they want, and "Rationality" and "Reasoning" are not to be employed. Unpleasant facts and truths that contravene their beliefs are to be ignored or obfuscated away, and double talk, along with smoke and mirrors are to be utilized by modern fascism in achieving their goals. They often accuse those that oppose them as being Nazis or Fascists due to the evil connotations of these labels, without the modern fascists understanding the true meaning of these labels. I am also reminded of the "Forrest Gump' movie line "Stupid is as stupid does". Therefore "Fascism is as fascism does".

Because Fascism has such a bad reputation and connotation in today’s society, modern fascism does not recognize that they are fascist. Instead, they have given themselves a new name – “Modern Progressives”. But make no mistake, Modern Progressives are Modern Fascists, because Modern Progressives do as Fascism does.To see it any other way is to purposely disregard history and the facts, and to do so runs the risk of my other observation on "Condemned To Repeat It". Today’s fascist often resort to "Torturous and Convoluted Reasoning", "Obfuscation, Smoke, and Mirrors", and "Euphemisms, Doublespeak, and Disingenuousness" to achieve their goals, which can be very dangerous to the body politic and to our Liberties and Freedoms.