Authors: Bogdanor
Summary: This 1600 word entry discusses fascism's historical origins, describes Mussolini's movement, compares the Italian model with other forms of European fascism, summarizes fascist ideology, and mentions the development of contemporary neo-fascist parties worldwide.
The entry descriptively defines fascism as a term indicating various militantly nationalistic and authoritarian movements that peaked in popularity between 1930 and 1945. The term derives from an ancient Roman symbol of unity and authority. Mussolini's Italian fascist movement, organized in March 1921, is cited as the original of these movements. The entry devotes considerable attention to describing Mussolini's organization and practices, including revolutionary and reactionary tendencies, mass revolutionist techniques, and internal ideological conflicts. The experiences of other European fascisms--Spain and Germany, for example--are compared with the Italian historical pattern. A major difference between the German experience and those of Italy, Spain, Romania and Hungary centers around the racialist and anti-Semitic ideology of Hitler's Nazism. Also, the Nazi party, which became totalitarian after 1933, achieved a level of hegemony unattainable by other European fascist governments.
Next, the entry summarizes some elements of fascist ideology. Among the most important are strong nationalism, individual subordination to an absolute state, the rejection of all democratic values and institutions, and an expansionist foreign policy based on national conquest.
The entry concludes by briefly contemplating the continued existence of neo-fascist groups during the post-World War II period. These movements are scattered throughout western Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, and a few specific examples are identified.