A-4

=Fascist Beliefs and Policies =

From Redifer Wiki, the modern-world-history-assignment encyclopedia  **Fascism** is a political movement that promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights, and a dictatorial one-party rule. Fascism is typically used in an authoritarian or totalitarian rule over a country by a dictator. Fascist dictators often claim to have authority on the level of a God, often causing the religions of the citizens within the country to convert to a faith centered around their dictator (Beck 476-477). Fascism is comparable to communism, with the exceptions of nationalistic and action-based beliefs (Biesinger, "fascism").

 Fascism is not a common political structure used today. It appeared most commonly in Europe during World War II, in countries such as Germany and Italy, ruled by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, respectively (Beck 477-478).

In History
The leader of Germany was Adolf Hitler. Germany’s political unit was Nazism. This unit believed that Germany had to over turn the treaty of Versailles and stop communism. The group later named itself the national socialist German workers party. Its policies formed the German style of fascism and used the swastika, or hook cross as a symbol. Hitler used his power to turn Germany into a totalitarian state. Hitler secret police arrested and murdered his enemies. The Nazis took command of the economy. He believed that the Germans were the master race and that the Jews were inferior (Beck 478).

Fascism’s rice in Italy started when Italy did not win new land in the treaty of Versailles. Also, the country had economic problems, which led to fascism becoming popular. The Italian people wanted a leader who would take action. Mussolini promised to help Italy (Sheldon, "Fascism"). He started the fascism party in inlay in 1919. The fascist people in Italy demanded the king step down and that Mussolini take over as leader of the country. He stopped democracy and all politics except fascism. He took control of the country.

Hitler and Mussolini supported the fascist style government in Spain by sending troops, tanks and airplanes (Kohn, "Mussolini’s Doctrine of Fascism"). The leader of the fascism government in Spain was Francisco Franco (Biesinger, Fascism). Franco’s forces were called the nationalists. In 1939 Franco became Spain's fascist dictator (Beck 476-483).

Politics
 Fascism consists of a dictatorship with one supreme leader and advisers; there is no parliament, and the people have no say in elections whatsoever. A fascist leader takes control of a country by some force or by taking advantage of a negative influence, such as a poor economy or a unsatisfactory leader. There is only one political party available, the political party that follows the campaigning of the dictator. All other political parties are eventually tracked down by the police and terminated (Beck 477).

Actions taken by the government are action-oriented, sometimes radical. Nationalism is the root of fascism in terms of driving force; fascists believe in their nation as the superior nation, in some cases, the superior race. The best example of racial superiority was Nazi Germany, which their leader Adolf Hitler glorified as the state of the "divine Aryan race." Leaders of fascist nations are often charismatic and influential amongst the people. In addition, leaders use deception to convince the populace that the government's actions are for a "greater good" (Beck 477-478).

Society
 Fascist society is divided rather heavily from each class. There are only about three clearly defined classes, including the aristocracy and industrialists, war veterans, and the lower middle class, from top to bottom. Despite the differences in class, the lower middle class, industrialists, and the military support the nation's leader. Economic functions are carried out by the state or corporations under supervision of the state; individuals are given very little say in the history of their purchases (Beck 477).

 Culture in fascist society is heavily censored; very little individualism is permitted. Overall, the state is regarded as far more important than the individual. Using the policy of indoctrination, fascist parties controlled the flow of information to the public. Propaganda was heavily used to sway people's opinions to be more like those of the leader's. Education is altered; children were taught politics that were weighed towards the leader and the successes of their own nation. As youth, they were taught various information that glorified the supreme leader (Beck 477).

 A secret police force is employed to control the people and eliminate opponents. If there was a citizen who believed in a political system that conflicted with the beliefs of the fascist leader, the secret police force would be employed to find the person and take care of them, usually lethally. The police force was known, but they removed people from the fascist society in stealthily, so not to cause upset. Examples of the secret police include the Nazi Schutzstaffel or the Italian "Black Shirts" (Beck 477-478).

In Comparison to Communism
 The main similarity between fascism and communism includes a one-party rule dictatorship. In this dictatorship, the ruler of the country is the supreme ruler with unlimited power over all interactions within the government and even in the personal lives of others. Democracy is non-existent, in order to avoid capitalism, in communists' case, and to keep absolute order in fascist society (Beck 476).

 Differences between the two political beliefs are more dominant. Fascism is considered by nature to be Anti-Marxist (Communist) (Biesinger, "fascism"). Communists seek internationalism, spreading communist ideals to other nations in hopes to proliferate classless society amongst other nations. In contrast, fascists seek nationalism, to increase the nation's own power and install the leader's beliefs in the populace. In addition, fascists did not attempt to dissolve societal classes, instead dividing the classes by greater amounts; the aristocrats became much more separated from the lower class (Beck 476). Fascism is also unlike communism because Fascism had no clearly defined theory or program. Also Fascism relies on the pride of ones country in which Communism does not. Fascists believed that one must suffer to be a state, While peaceful states were doomed to be concurred. Also, each nation of Fascists had their own certain colors and salutes.(Linklater 60-62).

References
1. Beck, Roger B. et al. //Modern World History: Patterns of Interaction//. McDougal Littel, 2005. Print. 2. Biesinger, Joseph A. "fascism." //Germany: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present//, European Nations. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. Web. May 2, 2011. 3.Hitler, Adolf. //Mein Kampf//. N.p.: The Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. Print. 4.Kohn, George Childs. "Mussolini's Doctrine of Fascism." //Dictionary of Historic Documents, Revised Edition//. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. Web. May 11, 2011. 5.Linklater, Magnus. //The Nazi Legacy//. New York, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, 1984. Print. 6.Sheldon, Garrett Ward. "fascism." //Encyclopedia of Political Thought//. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2001. //Modern World History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. Web. May 9, 2011. 7. “Insignia during Nazi-rule (1935-1945).” Clip art. //Wapedia//. Web. May 11, 2011. 8. “benito-mussolini-adolf-hitler.jpg.” Photograph. //Storage0.dms.mpinteractiv.ro//. Web. May 11, 2011. 9. “From 1933, Schutzstaffel unit insignia displayed two Sig Runes.” Clip art. //Runic Alphabet//. Web. May 11, 2011. 10. “Komünizm ve Rock Müzik arasındaki ilişkiler.” Clip art. //MAVI-NOTA//. Tüm Hakları Saklıdır, 2005-2011. Web. May 11, 2011.