FASCISM
The word ‘Fascism’ descends from the Latin ‘fasces’, the bundle of sticks used by the Romans
to symbolize their empire. This hints at the idea that Fascism attempts
to recapture both the glory and social organization of Rome. Fascists are
strong authoritarians. They are staunch followers of the political philosophy.
Fascism is a government system led by a dictator having complete power,
forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry,
commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.” Germans and Italians are examples of such
nations. The way to achieve national superiority is through the state.1 The ultimate goal of the major fascist regimes that
have existed, like the regimes of the Italian Fascist Party and the German Nazi
Party, was to pursue national greatness.
Fascism flourishes in countries with strong nationalism and weak
democracies. A democracy is considered to be weak if it is incompetent and
unresponsive. It also refers to a democracy that is fairly new and not strongly
entrenched. Since it is easier to replace this type of democracy with another
regime, it enables fascism to flourish. Fascist governments control the way
people live. Those who criticize the government or do not obey are punished.
They must leave the country, go to prison or are often executed.Fascist leaders
want to make their state strong and powerful. They claim that only the
strongest and fittest in the population can survive. With the help of a strong
army they go to war and expand their territory.
Post World War I, national resentment was potent in Germany and Italy.
They felt that their national pride had been humiliated. The Fascist and Nazi
parties were appealing because they promised to restore the national greatness
that citizens felt was lacking.Spain was another fascist country in Europe.
General Franco led a nationalist movement in the Spanish Civil War, in which he
got help from Italy and Germany. After winning the war Franco became dictator
of Spain and ruled the country until he died in 1975.In Argentina Juan Peron
led a fascist movement that lasted for a decade and in Chile a military group
under the command of Augusto Pinochet held on to power for almost two decades.
India is on its way of becoming a fascist state. It is in the grip of
fascist political parties. The regional parties proclaim their worship ‘of the
people’. Everything they do is in the name of the people and hence the people
should not be offended. The people above all else, they believe. This people
worship doesn't come as a surprise as all fascisms have operated in the same
way.
Presently, North Korea is the only country in our time meeting
qualifications of a fascist state, however, it is not really a fascist
government. One of the reason that makes North Korea a fascist state is the
recent execution of a top military general. North Korea sees its glory in
intimidation and conflict. People outside the government and military
institutions are worthless and have often died of starvation and diseases. No
elections and one ruthless dictator who is the pinnacle of social, political,
and economic order are reasons that make North Korea a fascist state. Not only
this, there have been growing fascist or proto-fascist movements in Europe and
North America for the last few decades.
A
fascist state cannot last. Infact, it does a lot of damage before it falls
apart. It will eventually be forced to make enemies out of some part of itself-
to eat itself.
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