Italy was the birthplace of fascist ideology. Mussolini, a former socialist journalist, organized the first fascist movement in 1919 in Milan. In 1922 Mussolini led a march on Rome, he was given a government post by the king, and this was the start of transforming the Italian political system into a fascist state (Cannistraro, 1982:209-212). It was in 1938 when he forced the last vestige of democracy, the Council of deputies, to vote themselves out of existence, leaving Mussolini dictator of fascist Italy.
Fascism was so popular because it promised solutions to economic, military and political problems for the middle social classes. In 1940, five out of twenty-eight European countries were not fascist. Fascism also played a large part in Germany with regards to Hitler although it is commonly referred to as Nazism. Hitler’s Nazi movement in Germany was obsessed with race and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. (Bessel, 1996: 74-9)
The people of Germany and Italy followed the likes of Hitler and Mussolini as they both used violence and fear to control the non-believers or sceptical believers of fascism. Fascist regimes tend to make a constant use of propaganda such as patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols and songs, and other paraphernalia. Thus those not involved were very much isolated. People also followed as “Fascism promised more: by identifying ready enemies-scapegoats for failed economic and national ambitions- fascism promised that it held the answer for those who sought protection and security”. (Geary, Kishlansky, O’Brien 1995: 868)
Democracy has many definitions one of which is that democracy is government by the people. Abraham Lincoln’s stated democracy as: - ‘Government of the people, by the people, and for the people’. This describes democracy as a system in which people govern themselves. (Cohen,1971: 3).
A conflicting view would be perhaps one by Joseph Schumpeter he argued that democracy is ‘that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of competitive struggle for people’s votes’.(Schumpeter, 1952: 262), Schumpeter argued that the most ‘people’ could do would be able to choose between elites, who would decide on their behalf. Once the choice was made they would have to ‘understand that, once they have elected an individual, political action is his business, and not theirs’ (Schumpeter, 1952: 294-5). Thus showing a similarity between both democracy and fascism one person is left to take control.
The important characteristics of democracy are things such as elections, human rights such as freedom of speech. Sometimes, some of these characteristics may be absent from a system that we believe is democratic. For example, England does not have a written constitution it also doesn’t have a separation of powers. The Legislature is supreme over the Judiciary (Held, 1993:25-29).
Democracy is of enormous importance to the working class in its struggle against the capitalists for its emancipation. But democracy is by no means a boundary not to be overstepped; it is only one of the stages on the road from feudalism to capitalism, and from capitalism to communism. Whereas fascism held much more importance to those in the middle social classes. Democracy emphasises power to all people whereas fascism consisted of one leader who made decision for all of society one person had control (dictator). Though it can be argued that in democracy there are still forms of dictatorship.
It was the blood and sacrifice of the Chinese, Spaniards and members of the International Brigade that alerted the world to the danger of fascism and the common struggle of peace-loving people, which led eventually to the downfall of fascist governments in Germany, Italy and Japan in 1945. This lead to people wanting a democratic society, fascist activities are largely under control nowadays thanks to European and American restrictions on fascist activities. The German and Italian governments seem completely sincere in their apologies to the victims of fascism. But in the East, the activities of fascists are yet to be effectively curbed. Many Japanese fascists not only escaped due punishment but gained positions as high officials in Japanese Government after the end of the Second World War. Such an arrangement, overseen by a few powers acting out of the consideration for their own interests, leaves plenty of room for the revival of fascist militarism. Instead of taking effective measures to curb such moves. (Schumpeter, 1952: 164-5)
Japan's leading Liberal Democratic party has chosen an election platform which includes support for government leaders who pay homage at the Yasukuni Shrine and for Japan's claim to China's Diaoyu Islands. These moves convince me that militarism and fascism are reviving in Japan. Such a revival, if not effectively curbed, will be a threat to the peace and stability of Asia and the whole world.
It is evident that over the century’s fascism has been decreased and hopefully abolished, resulting in democratic societies being formed. Democracy does not give us as individuals a say but as a majority we can stop fascism and create equality and stability.
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Bibliography
Besas, P. (1985) Behind the Spanish Lens, USA :Arden Press
Bessel, R. (1996) Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, Cambridge: The University of Cambridge Press.
Beethan, D. (2000) Democracy and Human Rights. UK: Polity Press
Cannistraro, P. (1982) Historical Dictionary of Fascist Italy, USA: Greenwood Press.
Cohen, C. (1971) Democracy, New York: The Free Press
De Grand, A. (1982) Italian Fascism: Its origins and development, Lincoln University: of Nebraska Press.
De Grand, A. (1995) Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany: The ‘Fascist’ style of rules, London: Routledge.
Geary ,P., Kishlansky, M., O’Brien, P. (1995) Civilization in the West, New York: Harper Collins College Publishers.
Held, D. (1993) Prospect for Democracy, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Schumpeter,J,. (1952) Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, 5th Edition, London: Unwin University Books.
Webster, R. (1960) The Cross and the Fasces, California: Stanford University Press.
[Acessed on 21st November 03)