Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 21:58:16 -0700
From: knightrose <knightrose-AT-geocities.com>
Subject: Re: M-I: A fusillade towards the past. What is Fascism?


I've found this an interesting thread. I've never been happy with those
who argue that "jews" do this and "jews" do that.  However, I'd like to
make a comment about fascism.  imo fascism is nothing more nor less than
one form of rule that capital has used and it also serves the useful
function of providing an ideology for racists to use to attack/murder
those they hate.  These days it is this latter form that is the biggest
threat.
As to fascism as a form of government, then I think we need to examine
what distinguished it from other forms of rule by capital.  Some
thoughts are:
1. corporatism
2. the incorporation of business and labour into the state machine
3. nationalism
4. totalitarian rule
5. racism/anti-semitism - but not always.
In that case, lets look at modern bourgeos democracy and we see:
points 1 to 3 already there, despite the claims of the state to be
reducing its role, in fact it is increasing.  I would argue that
'democracy' is also totalitarian - inasmuch as it provides an ideology
which seeks to control the very thought of the masses (and also provides
a convenient weapon to use against the working class).
5.  racism/anti-semitism.  Well, in Britain, at least, anti-semitism is
out of favour (except amongst total nutters), because there is a much
easier minority to attack - black and asian people. Racism, though, is
strong and the efforts to integrate Europe will make it even stronger,
by creating Fortress Europe and keeping 'undesirables' out!

I don't deny fascism and naziism in power were appalling, but were they
really any worse than other forms of capital's rule?  Surely not.  How
many millions has 'democracy' killed this century and last?  How many
died as a result of stalinism's peculiar form of state capitalism and
its efforts to accumulate capital rapidly or for that matter in China?

So, I don't think there is any chance of fascism returning to power in a
major capitalist power - democracy is so much more efficient as a form
of state control.  As a threat to individuals it is an extreme threat
and needs to be fought as such - the ideas of vicious gangs who deserve
as good as they give, or better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subversion Home Page including texts on the German Revolution
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/8195
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---