FASCISM:FASCISM:Closer in time, Closer to homeCloser in time, Closer to home

Dr. Zoltán GrossmanDr. Zoltán GrossmanMember of the FacultyMember of the Faculty

(Geography/Native American Studies)(Geography/Native American Studies)The Evergreen State CollegeThe Evergreen State College

Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washingtonhttp://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz

Marquette ParkMarquette Parkneighborhood, Chicagoneighborhood, Chicago

Not upholding economic Not upholding economic status quostatus quo

Not simply authoritarian conservativesNot simply authoritarian conservatives

Not simply fundamentalist ChristiansNot simply fundamentalist Christians

Not simply angry “rednecks”Not simply angry “rednecks”

What fascists are notWhat fascists are not

Right-wing revolutionaries against Right-wing revolutionaries against status quo status quo (liberal or conservative)(liberal or conservative)

Extreme nationalism and/or racismExtreme nationalism and/or racism

Law & Order = Absolute rule of core ethnic/racial Law & Order = Absolute rule of core ethnic/racial groupgroup

See similar problems as Left, but not class analysis:See similar problems as Left, but not class analysis:explain world through nation/race, conspiracy theoriesexplain world through nation/race, conspiracy theories

What fascists areWhat fascists are

MagyarMagyarGárdaGárda

(Hungarian(HungarianGuard)Guard)

JobbikJobbik party forparty for “ “radicalradical change”change”

"The role of racism and the role of anti-Semitism and of scapegoating in general is quite different for a fascist movement from that of a right-wing conservative movement or a traditional Klan-type movement. That is, it is not to put people in their place. It is not to make a sub-class out of them and to exploit, or super-exploit, their labor. It is genocidal. It is exterminationist.” --Ken Lawrence--Ken Lawrence

What fascists areWhat fascists are

BritainBritain HungaryHungary

Each race/ethnic nation has its placeEach race/ethnic nation has its place- Need to stay in ancestral homeland (separatism)Need to stay in ancestral homeland (separatism)- Racial mixing as violating nature (Racial mixing as violating nature (Turner DiariesTurner Diaries))

Jews (and Gypsies) historically Jews (and Gypsies) historically depicted as “rootless.”depicted as “rootless.”-Cosmopolitan or separated from landCosmopolitan or separated from land-African Diaspora also depicted as rootlessAfrican Diaspora also depicted as rootless

Jews direct Jews direct ““global conspiracy”global conspiracy”- Smart/crafty - Smart/crafty - Manipulate others- Manipulate others

Blood and SoilBlood and Soil

Ataka (Bulgaria):Ataka (Bulgaria):““I don’t want to live in I don’t want to live in

a Gypsy country,” 2011a Gypsy country,” 2011

Blueprint for USBlueprint for USrevolution byrevolution byNational AllianceNational Allianceleader Wm. Pierceleader Wm. Pierce

Fascists as economic populists; depicted Fascists as economic populists; depicted as champions of majority ethnic group’s as champions of majority ethnic group’s working class working class (Mussolini ex-socialist, NSDAP)(Mussolini ex-socialist, NSDAP)

Reality quite different: suppress strikes, Reality quite different: suppress strikes, advocate labor and capital as partners advocate labor and capital as partners to build the nation to build the nation (Fasces as symbol)(Fasces as symbol)

Corporate backing for Fascists/NazisCorporate backing for Fascists/Nazis(Militarism as superprofitable:(Militarism as superprofitable:Expansion benefits both German farmerExpansion benefits both German farmersettlers (settlers (lebensraumlebensraum) and rich industrialists.) and rich industrialists.

Law & Order is good for business.Law & Order is good for business.

Ethnic/Racial Consciousness Ethnic/Racial Consciousness over Class Consciousnessover Class Consciousness

Fasces: Roman symbol ofFasces: Roman symbol ofstrength through unitystrength through unity

Hitler greetsHitler greetsKrupp von Krupp von BohlenBohlen

Fascism flourishes in economic crisis: Fascism flourishes in economic crisis: Scapegoating minority as source of Scapegoating minority as source of problem, not majority elite.problem, not majority elite.

Rulers need to identify enemies Rulers need to identify enemies both both belowbelow and above and above the majority.the majority.

Win over “Middle” by diverting animosity Win over “Middle” by diverting animosity toward poor, also by emphasizing threat toward poor, also by emphasizing threat from above, to detract attention from rulingfrom above, to detract attention from rulinginstitutions. institutions. (Warren, (Warren, The Radical Center)The Radical Center)

Majority citizens portrayed as underdogs,Majority citizens portrayed as underdogs,or victims of elite-underclass conspiracyor victims of elite-underclass conspiracyHungary: Jews & EU above, Roma below;Hungary: Jews & EU above, Roma below;U.S.: Coastal elites above, immigrants belowU.S.: Coastal elites above, immigrants below

Scapegoating as Scapegoating as Social Control of MajoritySocial Control of Majority

Jobbik/Magyar Gárda march through Jobbik/Magyar Gárda march through Hungarian Roma communityHungarian Roma community

Minutemen on Arizona borderMinutemen on Arizona border

Early Nazis used Pre-Christian pagan warrior ethosEarly Nazis used Pre-Christian pagan warrior ethosLater tried to secure loyalty of Christian churchesLater tried to secure loyalty of Christian churches

Celebrate rural homeland as symbol of organic purity; Celebrate rural homeland as symbol of organic purity; City as degraded, cosmopolitan, distant from natureCity as degraded, cosmopolitan, distant from nature

Hiking societies, chorale groups, youth health groupsHiking societies, chorale groups, youth health groupsHitler “was a vegetarian and loved dogs” Hitler “was a vegetarian and loved dogs”

German Left held rallies and speeches, failed to articulate visionGerman Left held rallies and speeches, failed to articulate vision

Manipulating paganism, youth countercultureManipulating paganism, youth counterculture

Wandervogel Wandervogel (Wandering Birds)(Wandering Birds)proto-hippies later proto-hippies later joined Hitler Youth,joined Hitler Youth,SA BrownshirtsSA Brownshirts

Nationalist RockNationalist Rock

Fascists can oppose: Fascists can oppose: Corporate globalization,Corporate globalization,Outsourcing of jobs overseas,Outsourcing of jobs overseas,Environmental pollution,Environmental pollution,Demise of family farms,Demise of family farms,Consumerist culture,Consumerist culture,Iraq and Afghan wars,Iraq and Afghan wars,CIA drug running,CIA drug running,Foreign arms sales,Foreign arms sales,Free trade (EU, NAFTA, WTO),Free trade (EU, NAFTA, WTO),but for opposite reasons than the leftbut for opposite reasons than the left. .

They exploit and manipulate legitimate They exploit and manipulate legitimate issues for their own nefarious ends. Inissues for their own nefarious ends. Incompetition with the left for followers. competition with the left for followers.

Exploiting anti-elite/Exploiting anti-elite/anti-government sentimentanti-government sentiment

LaRouche cult against VP CheneyLaRouche cult against VP Cheney

Public face of French National FrontPublic face of French National Front

Axis or “Fascist International” is difficult;Axis or “Fascist International” is difficult;Competing national priorities (or territories)Competing national priorities (or territories)

Differences over primary enemyDifferences over primary enemy(Japanese fascists sheltered Jews in Shanghai)(Japanese fascists sheltered Jews in Shanghai)

Differences over central role of Differences over central role of traditional institutions traditional institutions (Church central in Clerical Fascism)(Church central in Clerical Fascism)

Fascism about Fascism about ethnicityethnicity; Nazism about ; Nazism about racerace..Mussolini (Italy), Horthy (Hungary), Mussolini (Italy), Horthy (Hungary), Franco (Spain) were Fascists but not Nazis.Franco (Spain) were Fascists but not Nazis.

Differences among fascistsDifferences among fascists

Hungary annexes Hungary annexes southern Slovakia, 1938southern Slovakia, 1938

““The Result: Racial Pride Disappears”The Result: Racial Pride Disappears”

U.S. Fascist Sympathizers, 1920s-30sU.S. Fascist Sympathizers, 1920s-30sMany Western conservatives saw communism as the main enemy (e.g., in Spain)Many Western conservatives saw communism as the main enemy (e.g., in Spain)

Charles Lindbergh with Hermann Göring

Henry Ford’s The International Jew:The World’s Foremost Problem

Henry Luce,Time publisher

Father Charles Coughlinaddresses rally, radio

William D. Pelley ofSilver Shirts

German-American

Bund

Jean-Marie Le Pen (France), 2Jean-Marie Le Pen (France), 2ndnd for French presidency, 2002 for French presidency, 2002

Jörg Haider (Austria), party in government, 2000-04Jörg Haider (Austria), party in government, 2000-04

Gábor Vona (Hungary), Jobbik party won 17% of vote, 2010Gábor Vona (Hungary), Jobbik party won 17% of vote, 2010

David Duke, Lyndon LaRouche, etc. (U.S.)David Duke, Lyndon LaRouche, etc. (U.S.)

Popularize racist policies (e.g., anti-immigrant) that are Popularize racist policies (e.g., anti-immigrant) that are then taken up by conservative politicians to win votes. then taken up by conservative politicians to win votes.

Modern Fascist LeadersModern Fascist Leaders

Klan/Nazi leaderDavid Duke won

majority of white votein Louisiana

governors’ race, 1991

Searchlight (UK) on European fascismhttp://www.searchlightmagazine.com

Center for New Communityhttp://www.buildingdemocracy.org

Turn it Down: Campaign Against White Power Musichttp://turnitdown.newcomm.org

Political Research Associateshttp://www.publiceye.org

Hatewatchhttp://www.splcenter.org/intel/hatewatch

Hate symbolshttp://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/default.asp

     

   

Extreme-rightrecruiting inTea Party(NAACP report,2010)

Jobbik gains17% of vote,46 seats inHungarianParliament,2010

Militia followersbomb Oklahoma City, 1995

Novel warns ofAmericanhomegrownfascism, 1935