Defining Socialism and Fascism

Understanding and Differentiating Between the Two Political Extremes

Sep 12, 2009

Though similar in their emphasis in totalitarianism, socialism and fascism are two different political concepts with like leanings.

Perhaps more than at any other time in current history, the terms socialistand fascisthave been easily thrown about in countless articles and commentaries used to refer not just to the President of the United States, Barack Obama, but also to any idea or potential policy that may expand the role of government in every day American life. The health care debate is a case in point.

However accurate or inaccurate these depictions of socialism or fascism may be in relation to the current state of affairs, it is important to understand exactly what these terms mean and where they gained prominence.

Socialism Defined

In Webster’s New World College Dictionary, socialism is defined as “any of various theories or systems of the ownership and operation of the means of production and distribution by society or the community rather than by private individuals, with all members of society or community sharing in the work and products.” Essentially, everyone works together for the greater good. This is the intermediate stage, according to Marxist doctrine, which comes between the capitalism and communism stages.

Origins of Socialism

Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825) is viewed by many political theorists as the embodiment of the essence of socialism: even more so than Karl Marx. Saint-Simon saw the advances of science and industry and predicted their dominance. Because of this, he believed that a social harmony could be achieved through the scientific division of labor. It was from Saint-Simon that philosophers like Marx, Auguste Comte, and John Stuart Mill drew influence for their socialist theories.

Socialist Countries of the World

Socialist states have included the USSR, Communist China, Sweden, England, Cuba and North Korea. Socialism has also claimed smaller states in Eastern Europe, East Africa, as well as SE Asia. More recently, Venezuela has come into the socialist fold under the leadership of Hugo Chavez.

Noted Socialists

Notable socialist throughout history include Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, George Orwell, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Jawaharlal Nehru, Eugene V. Debs, Leo Tolstoy, Charlie Chaplin, Bertrand Russell, and Jose Marti.

Defining Fascism

Webster’s defines fascism as “a system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized governmental control, belligerent nationalism, racism, and militarism, etc.”

Origins of Fascism

The term fascistcan be attributed to Europe’s first fascist leader, Italy’s Benito Mussolini. He took the name of his party the fascistifrom the Latin word fasces, which, in ancient Rome, referred to a symbol of penal authority in the form of bundled elm or birch rods containing an ax.

Many historians as well as political scientist disagree as to what the nature of fascism is. Some look upon it as a socially radical movement with ideological ties to the Jacobins of the French Revolution whose beliefs included the need to remove all social class distinctions and implement governmental provision of welfare for the poor. Other scholars see fascism as an extreme form of conservatism inspired by a 19th-century backlash against the ideals of the Enlightenment.

Fascist States

Fascist states have included Germany under Hitler, Italy under Mussolini, Japan under Tojo, Spain under Franco, Chile under Pinochet, and Argentina under Peron. These fascist states differed from each other primarily in their emphasis on race and nationalism. Where they found their commonality is in the type of fascism that they adhered to – one where a strong centralized governmental power permitted no opposition or criticism, controlling all industry and commerce, etc.

Same Song, Different Verse

Once dissected, these two political ideas do differ from each other greatly. Their similarities, however, tend to be more obvious than their differences especially if seen against the light of capitalism. Perhaps the best way to describe socialism and fascism is that they are two sides of the same totalitarian coin – one on the extreme left and the other on the extreme right.

BNC101

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