The fascism has its origin in the post-First World War situations in Italy. The Italian people had felt betrayed by the outcome of the Paris conference, held in the aftermath of the 1st World War. Italy was not awarded the territorial claims it put forward as its legitimate claims in the Paris conference. Thought the post-war situation in Italy was not grim as that of Germany, which had been morally demoralized, economically bruised and politically subjugated to the allied powers. Yet, it had all the conditions for the rise of the totalitarian or a dictatorship like fascism.
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Mussolini had struck the right chord with demoralized Italian society through his brand of nationalism and policies, and the program for the political, social, and economic upliftment. The March established his credentials as the mass leader and he was invited to become the premier. After it, he started undermining all political and social institutions, transforming ultimately into personal dictatorship.
Fascism – Meaning and Ideational Profile
The concept of fascism is mainly derived from its characteristics and tenets from the book of Mussolini, Fascism. According to him the concept of state, society, freedom, and democracy is best summed up in following words: “Anti-individualistic, the fascist conception of life stresses the importance if the state and accepts individuals only in so far as his interests coincide with those of state, which stands for the conscience and the universal will of man as historic entity. It is opposed to classical liberalism, which arose as a reaction to absolutism and exhausted its historical role when the state became the expression of the conscience and will of the people”.
He further maintained that “Liberalism denied the state in the name of the individuals. Fascism reasserts the right of the state as expressing the real essence of the individuals. And if liberty is to be the attribute of living men and not of abstract dummies invented by the individualistic liberalism, then fascism stands for liberty, and for the only liberty worth having, the liberty of the state and the individuals within the state”.
Characteristics of Fascism
The characteristics of fascism are nothing but a totalitarian state packed with a narrow concept of nationalism. Firstly, it is based on physical strength. Force and naked strength are the pivot around which this fascism revolves. Secondly, fascism stands for arbitrary rule. The rule of the dictator is not responsible or accountable to people or any other authority. It rules according to his will and is not limited by any considerations except those he decides.
Thirdly, the ruler or dictator has absolute power. His powers do not emanate from the constitution or any other authority. Fascism is in favor of a totalitarian state. It commands and controls every aspect of human life. Whether it is social, cultural, economic, or personal life, it interferes everywhere. Fourthly, it has faith in violence. It is based on fear and punishment. People obey the diktats of the ruler not out of any reverence but because of punishment and prosecution. There is no distinction between state and society.
Thus, fascism was a major reason behind the second world war.
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