Fascism a style? – Moon of Alabama

July 26, 2004

Fascism a style?

Juan Cole, Professor of History and blogger of Informed Comment, is provocating by calling the Israeli Gaza settlers fascists.

Fascism remains a useful analytical tool for understanding modern politics. Each country’s fascism has been different, since fascism is more a style than a specific ideology. Among its attributes is

1) Radical nationalism. Fascism celebrates a cult of the nation, seeing it as the ultimate human value, trumping all others. Thus, one may lie, cheat, steal, spy and murder for the nation without shame.

2) Militarism and aggressiveness. Fascist political movements are expansionist, dissatisfied with their national boundaries and seeking to colonize the territory of neighbors. …

3) Racism. Fascist movements, because of their extreme nationalism, tend to demonize ethnic groups considered outside the nation. Racism becomes a justification for violence, since groups of people are defined as essentially demonic or threatening, and therefore deserving of being repressed in order to prevent them from doing evil. …

4) Favoring the wealthy, punishing the poor. … [They favor] wealthy elites with their policies. They despised the poor and drove them deeper into poverty.

5) Dictatorship. Fascists disliked open democratic elections. …

Posted by b on July 26, 2004 at 15:44 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Was reading Juan Cole earlier and thought that this piece was quite provocative as well.
“We sense that the level of threat to the Temple Mount from the standpoint of extreme and fanatic Jewish elements carrying out a terrorist attack in order to ‘reshuffle the cards,’ to serve as a catalyst to a change in the entire political initiative [the disengagement process] – this level has risen in recent months and more so in recent weeks.”
Read more

Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jul 26 2004 17:53 utc | 1

I strongly recommend Richard Ben Cramer’s How Israel Lost for a discussion of the beliefs of at least some of the settlers. Cramer identifies them as Israel’s newest, and most fervent, tribe. I’m not sure Juan Cole (whom I respect incredibly) is completely accurate in his characterization of them as fascists, but he has correctly illuminated the radical and uncompromising nature of their beliefs. Indeed, the settlers resemble Hamas much more than they resemble Labour. We may be looking at another tragic situation where “the center cannot hold.”

Posted by: Aigin | Jul 26 2004 18:40 utc | 2

@Aigin
They might have lost, but they’re out with a Big Fight!

Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jul 26 2004 19:12 utc | 3

The Cole attributes of course appeal to measure other groups along this style. Michael Parenti does so in an discussion described on Asia Times Online about Groupthink and the slide into fascism:

In discussing questions of contemporary fascism with Asia Times Online, Dr Parenti said, “When fascism came to power [in the 1930s], what it did was cut back on the public sector, privatize a lot of state-owned industries, abolish inheritance taxes and other taxes on the rich, abolish corporate taxes, cut wages, destroy labor unions, and destroy or undermine opposition parties.” He described fascism as simply a tool employed by ruthless power-elites in achieving their ambitions. He added: “There’s a concern that we’re [the US] heading towards fascism, or that we’re replicating fascism today.”

Posted by: Bernhard | Jul 26 2004 19:24 utc | 4

As much as I admire Professor Cole, the use of the 1930’s term, Fascism, is misleading. The great problem is that the USA has ignored and hasn’t even identified Muslim Rage as its opponent. This rage is cultural and ideological based on humiliation and economic strangulation and is centered in the mosque. Palestine, Afghanistan and now Iraq are its flash points.
The USA has no idea whom or what it is fighting. This rage is very human founded on our tribal and reptilian heritage. When attacked, we all respond identically exasperating the resolution of the problem. Orthodox Jews or evangelistic Republicans are responding and acting in the exact same base manner as Islamic fundamentalists. Unless secular practical solutions are found, the only outcome in the Middle East is partition and genocide and assorted casualties throughout the world.

Posted by: Jim S | Jul 26 2004 23:28 utc | 5

Nazism is just the ultimate and perfected version of capitalism. Kill off those that aren’t productive enough, and make money off their deaths.
Sure, we don’t kill people to make soap and lamp shades, but it’s only because there isn’t enough people who would buy them.

Posted by: Clueless Joe | Jul 26 2004 23:29 utc | 6

Comparing dictatorships
Stalin and Hitler reassessed

Posted by: Nemo | Jul 27 2004 6:37 utc | 7

Jim,
Reptilian Rage?
I think even “evildoers” would be an easier enemy to fight against!

Posted by: Jackmormon | Jul 27 2004 9:01 utc | 8

Oh, Israel and the settlers… Thought that was about the US…

Posted by: Anonymous | Jul 29 2004 16:43 utc | 9

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