Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 16:01:50 -0500 (EST)
From: Jon Beasley-Murray <jpb8-AT-acpub.duke.edu>
Subject: Peronism and fascism


Unfortuntately, recent events with life here in Durham have meant I 
haven't been able to participate too much recently, and am not able to 
access my books or too much else right now...

But Louis does accuse me of giving credibility to imperialist lies, and 
them's fighting words, so I feel I should say something at least.

First, Peronism's clear difference from fascism might have been news to 
Juan and Eva themselves.  Eva in particular was very impressed by 
Mussolini (she visited Italy shortly before WWII as I recall), and 
certainly Italian fascism was one significant model upon which Peronism drew.

Second, however, this is not necessarily to say that Peronism was a form
of fascism (I don't think it was), but to point up a certain resemblance,
and a contrast from which it's possible to highlight features of fascism
and populism both. Laclau argues that the difference is a class
difference--fascism is a populism of the dominant classes.

But in Peronism's long history it was a very mixed movement, and there 
certainly were elements of fascism, and fascist ideology or social 
programs, present, just as at other points it was articulated with 
Cuban-style theories of guerrilla anti-capitalist revolution.

One problem in this exchange with Louis, by the way, is that I think we 
may be slightly at historical cross-purposes, because it seems he knows 
more about (and takes as representative) the Peronism of the 70s, while 
for me the Peronism of the 40s and 50s is more interesting.

Oh, and while I understand complaints about Juan's style, I think 
criticizing his grammar is out of line.  Y no estoy de acuerdo con 
Lorenzo cuando dice el que una discusion en espannol seria una mala idea.

Saludos

Jon

Jon Beasley-Murray
Literature Program
Duke University
jpb8-AT-acpub.duke.edu
http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~spoons


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

     ------------------