Fascism originated in Europe after World War I. At that time politics was dominated by the struggle between wealthy capitalists who made up the oligarchic ruling class and socialists and communists who represented the working class. In many countries this class struggle was at fever pitch. The working class was striking and rioting in many large cities, while the ruling class was sending in soldiers and policeman to quell the riots and beat the workers into submission.
At the same time electoral politics was becoming much more important. There were conservative political parties that advocated a strong monarchy. There were liberal parties that primarily represented the business sector, and there were the socialists and communists. There were also some fringe parties who sought the support of the small middle class. In most countries none of these parties could gain a majority of the vote.
A large section of the population was not well represented by any of these political parties. This included small farmers who owned their own land, small shop owners, and skilled craftsmen. These people were generally very conservative. They had no use for the socialists and communists, but they equally disliked the wealthy oligarchs who controlled big business. In the past they had often supported the monarchy, but in the aftermath of World War I, monarchs were out of favor.
A number of would-be politicians saw the makings of a new political coalition. These men did not come from wealthy families, and they had little sympathy for the oligarchs. They designed their program around popular conservative issues like family and patriotism. They aimed their appeal at farmers, shopkeepers, and skilled workers, but they also saw a chance to widen this constituency. They supported workers rights, higher pay, and better working conditions. They campaigned heavily in working class neighborhoods in direct competition with socialists and communists. Their patriotic message included a strong intolerance for foreigners and ethnic minorities such as Jews and Gypsies.
These fascist politicians called for family values, a strong nation, a strong government, law and order, economic growth, and prosperity for everyone. In a Europe of weak governments, divisive politics, and class struggle this was a strong political message and it quickly received growing support. The monarchists and oligarchs had never campaigned on a platform of prosperity for everyone. The socialists and communists had never campaigned on a platform of prosperity for everyone. This was a new idea, and the voters liked it.
At first the wealthy oligarchs had complete disdain for the fascists. They were little men with no breeding who had a talent for haranguing crowds. This could be dangerous, but as the fascists became more powerful, the oligarchs realized that they could be useful allies. The fascists had their own armed escorts. They could fight their way into the toughest, socialist controlled, working class neighborhoods, hold a rally, make speeches, fight their way back out, and come away with a significant portion of the vote. This was very impressive.
In the 1920s and 30s imperialism still ruled the world. For the larger countries in Europe, having a strong nation was defined as having an empire and colonies. Here was another area of agreement between the fascists and the oligarchs. They both wanted a strong military that was capable of conquering others and taking their wealth.
In the 1930s fascism became the dominant political force in Central Europe. It was also growing in strength in Western Europe and parts of South America. Fascist parties always had strong authoritarian leaders. In those countries where they came to power, they usually suspended elections and ruled as dictators.
During World War II allied war propaganda portrayed the fascists as evil, minority parties who seized control of their countries by force or trickery. This was not the case. Fascism, like socialism and communism, is a reaction against oligarchic society. In most oligarchic countries the government is controlled by a small group of wealthy capitalists. These governments are weak because they do not have the support of the majority of citizens. Class warfare is endemic. The currency and economies are weak because the government is unable to provide stability and the conditions necessary for prosperity and economic growth. Under these circumstances most of the population is poor and unhappy. They are continuously looking for some alternative. In a few countries that alternative is provided by communism. Much more often it is provided by a strong authoritarian dictator. Most of the people do not care about elections that are dominated by wealthy oligarchs. This is not real democracy. They often prefer an authoritarian dictator if he can convince them that he will form a strong government that is capable of controlling the oligarchs and provide the stability that is needed for economic growth.
After the defeat of fascist Germany and Italy in World War II, fascism lost most of its popularity, but the conditions that led to its rise to power in the 1930s still exist in many developing countries. Weak, elected governments, dominated by oligarchs, continue to do a poor job of ruling these societies. The currencies are weak. Inflation is rife. Economic growth is slow. The majority of the people are exploited and unhappy. Class warfare continues. Under these conditions, a large portion of the population is quite willing to accept a populist dictator. They still want a strong government that can control the oligarchs and bring about economic stability and growth. Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Pinochet in Chile are examples of this kind of dictatorship. For as long as there are oligarchic societies, we are likely to see more of this type of dictator.
In the postwar world imperialism is no longer a problem. We do not have to worry about strong dictators trying to conquer an empire. In some countries, military dictators are still used to quell socialists and communists and help maintain the oligarchs in power. In the most chaotic countries, dictators are needed in order to have anything resembling a government at all.
In recent times, the closest approximation to fascism has been Saddam Hussein and the government of Iraq. As usual the dictatorship arose because a weak oligarchic government was incapable of controlling the country and providing the stability and regulatory authority that is needed for a successful market economy.
After Saddam Hussein consolidated his power, he launched attacks on two neighboring states. I do not see his attacks on Iran and Kuwait as examples of imperialism, but I do accept that there is a case that can be made for that conclusion. The difference is that Saddam’s aggressions were not aimed at foreign populations who were to be held in bondage. He tried to seize a part of Iran that is inhabited by Arabs with the same ethnicity and culture as Iraq. He also tried to seize the principality of Kuwait, which is again the same ethnicity and culture as Iraq. This is closer to the definition of national unification than imperialism. However, in both cases he was more interested in the oil that these areas contain than in the people. Therefore, it was more an effort to conquer other people’s wealth, rather than an act of national unification.
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