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Fascism

Fascism. What is it?. A political ideology that seeks to regenerate social, economic and cultural life by increasing sense of national belonging and ethnic identity Seeks to eliminate democracy

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Fascism

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  1. Fascism

  2. What is it? • A political ideology that seeks to regenerate social, economic and cultural life by increasing sense of national belonging and ethnic identity • Seeks to eliminate democracy • Demagoguery – a leader who makes use of popular prejudices/false claims & promises in order to gain power • Propaganda, link with the church • ** strong nationalist sentiment – brings pride • Italy, Germany

  3. When & Why? • 1918- 1945 • Post WWI – response to political and social uncertainty after the War • Total social renewal

  4. II. Major Elements • Attempts revolutionary change with a central focus on popularizing myths of national or ethnic renewal 3 common features: • anticonservatism, • myth of national or ethnic renewal, • idea of a nation in crisis

  5. A. Anticonservatism • Dramatic social and political change • Create a new type of total culture in which values, politics, art, social norms and economic activity are all part of a single organic national community • How? Racial purity through new institutions: propaganda, stadiums, etc.

  6. B. Myth of National or Ethnic Renewal • Revival of a mythic national past, idealized • Former greatness has been destroyed • Create a harmonious community whose values are rooted in an imaginary past in which there were no differences of culture or undesirable genetic traits – Ex. Jews in Germany

  7. C. Idea of a Nation in Crisis • Nation faces a profound crisis • Resolvable only through radical political transformation • Can save the nation from itself and its inner enemies

  8. III. How Fascist movements differ • Intellectual foundations • Views on race • Attitude towards religion • Emphasis on militarism • Use of political rituals

  9. A. Intellectual Foundations • Sorel (French philosopher/theorist): violence, racial differences • Chamberlin (Former British prime minister): racial differences and Darwin

  10. B. Views on Race • Restoration of racial purity • Racism • Eugenics: improve a a race through controlled reproduction • No immigration: preserve ethnic identity and purity • Racially purify other nations

  11. E. Use of Political Rituals • Religious rituals and rallies and media to gain mass support

  12. Religion & Militarism • Not shared • Nazis – hostile • Italy: link to Church • Blend paramilitary organizations with a political party and charismatic leader • Rigidly organize population

  13. Summary - Fascism • Complete revolution in social, economic and political realms • Glorification of history • Demagoguery of leader • Complete control of society • Propaganda, rallies, military, school – for indoctrination (fascist point of view) • = linked to uncertainty and shame after WWI

  14. Mussolini & Fascism in Italy • Dictatorship: • little control over personal life, state controlled as much of you as they could • Italians were expected to follow the Fascist party, and this was ensured by the “Black Shirts” – those who brought in line those who opposed Mussolini • they tied ‘troublemakers’ to a tree, force a liter of castor oil down the victim’s throat and forced him to eat a live toad/frog

  15. Education in Fascist Italy • Boys: expected to grow into fierce soldiers who would fight with glory for Italy • Girls: were expected to be good mothers who would provide Italy with a population that a great power was expected to have. • “Mussolini was the only man who could lead Italy back to greatness”

  16. Hitler & Fascism in Germany • Economy: State managed the economy • Industrialists told what to produce & price they should charge • government ordered workers to move to where they were needed - controlled unemployment • Individual: no political organizations; all elections were abolished. • Censorship: All information was selected to support fascist beliefs - close check on newspapers, magazines, books, radio broadcasts, plays and movies • Education: Teachers who were opposed were punished • the Hitler Youth were also asked to report teachers who questioned fascism • Textbooks were withdrawn and rewritten by Nazis

  17. Disobedience?: murdered; Gestapo • Women: • Be good mothers • Have racially pure children with racially pure fathers

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