Understanding Fascism: Principles, Ideology, and Historical Context

This essay provides an analysis of the principles of Fascism, focusing on its rejection of Enlightenment ideals and its emergence in the early 20th century. The essay examines the key ideologies of Fascism, including spiritualism, rejection of democracy, and the emphasis on the State over the individual. It discusses the role of Benito Mussolini, the rise of totalitarian regimes, and the use of violence and war as central tenets. The essay traces the historical context, including the impact of industrialization and the development of political scenarios. The author uses the provided document to explore the core beliefs, societal structures, and the overall impact of Fascism on society. The essay also touches on the rejection of socialism and democracy in favor of a hierarchical State structure and the emphasis on the collective will of the State. The essay concludes with a discussion of the role of violence and the dictator's relationship with the State.

Running Head: PRINCIPLES OF FASCISM
Principles of Fascism
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

1PRINCIPLES OF FASCISM
Principles of Fascism
The ideology of Fascism has always been argued in parallel to the modern and
evolution of modernity. It was especially the rise of industrialization that industrial power
was recognized. It started the modern concept of war, resulting in totalitarian and
authoritarian regimes. Fascism was the direct product of Italian leader and later the
totalitarian dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini, who ruled the country for two decades along
with his ally Adolf Hitler in the later part of their career when they targeted by the League of
Nation. Fascism as a concept is completely in disregard and opposite to the enlightenment
ideologies of the prior age. The ideology was introduced by Mussolini and was almost
enforced to be added to the Italian Encyclopedia of 19321. It was written in collaboration with
Giovanni Gentile, who was a friend, supporter, and court philosopher. The essay will trace
the root of Fascism coming from the modern society of rationality and individualism, which
was seen in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
It was in the latter part of the enlightenment that the ideology was seen to be
developing in the political scenarios as well, with the likes Lenin finally coming into the
picture. The formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic brought Marxism into
realization into a political ideology with the representation of an organization. It was for the
first time that the State used a system of class division, and brought an understanding of
power. It came into the hand of the State with the coherence of being used in favor of society.
It was succeeded by Joseph Stalin’s Communist Party. The power of the trade union in the
industrial zone was quickly organized as the ‘red forces’ who fought the war and gained back
the industrial. However, the wars created completely devastated the economic condition of
the State2. They were sent to the rural areas to confiscate food and grain from the peasant
with no restriction on any action, which resulted in another civil war. One can see that the
1 “The Doctrine of Fascism”
2 "Making Of the Modern World”

2PRINCIPLES OF FASCISM
rise of the ideology of war and the appreciation and the affinity present in Fascism regarding
violence started generating from a very young age.
Fascism consists of clear ideologies which are in direct negation with the
Enlightenment ideas of liberalism, spiritualism, socialism as well as growing democracy. The
most prevalent ideology of spiritualism is completely rejected by Fascism, for it favors
spiritual attitude, which appeals to man to make himself as immersed in the State as his
physical strength permits. It means that man and his life is subject to natural law does not
stand valid in this regard for man in the spiritual form was expected to be self-centered where
his desires were based on the belief of satisfaction of pleasure. However, the ideology of
Fascism promotes spiritualism in another perspective, which is to see that his life is centered
on the transient reality of life in which the center is always the State. Man exists only inside
the structure of the State and the struggle to better himself; to elevate himself, man must
strive to be better himself in all forms, whether it is moral, physical, or intellectual.
The fascist regime by Mussolini was founded on violence and in favor of the war
were his very first contribution of political career was the construction of Italian Combat
Squad known in French as Fasci Italiani di combattimento3. It was seen as the right coverage
of being a journalist and covering the working of the socialist governments. He gathered war
veterans who were tired of being tossed around by the government, under social unions and
organizations. Like Stalin and his red force, Mussolini established his first foot in the politics
with the help of ‘Blackshirts’ which comprised of war veterans and highly trained in combat.
Mussolini’s first acquiescing came from the King when he demanded or rather threatened the
acceptance of his party into recognition after democracy and socialism4. It was in 1923 that
the first fascist corporate State was established.
3 "Making Of the Modern World”
4 "Making Of the Modern World”

3PRINCIPLES OF FASCISM
By the end of 1926, Fascism had planted its rooted in the society with the electoral
process completely removed, and the rights of the press were curbed down to being negligent.
Moreover, the most crucial facet of the fascist society, working secret police organized to
vigil the society of any protest. Socialism as the ideology was completely rejected, but inside
the definitive State, the formation of union and class division was practiced in favor of the
division of hierarchal position to be demarcated for the chain of order to be passed and
followed. The social contract theory binding the society and the State into a moral obligation
for each other was shown as the manifestation of the individual society5. The social
responsibility of the people towards each other could not be validated for the foundation of
the responsibility emerged to satisfy the individual need of the collective society. According
to the Fascists ideology, social theory and moral obligations were constructed for achieving
‘happiness’ which is not a viable option, according to Mussolini. It is because he believed
that man outside the structure of the State is a non-entity. The interest of the man can only be
deemed to be existing or ‘moral’ if the ethics coincides or is similar to the interest of the
State6. This validates the war, violence, and other forms of suppression, which we observed
in the case of Ethiopia as it was to bring under the State the power required to realize the
totalitarian regime.
In the case of democracy, we see that Fascism rejects all forms of realization and
recognition of the rights of every individual in society. However, Mussolini terms it as the
modern democracy where the right and the will of the quality of the State are more valuable
than the quantity. The harsh nature of the ideology can be seen reflecting from the fact that
most of the ideologies have either been twisted to be used Fascism or completely alienated.
The society as whole working on the will of the superior personality understanding the aim of
development which shows the huge emphasis on education and discipline. The right to live
5 “Making Of the Modern World”
6 “The Doctrine of Fascism”

4PRINCIPLES OF FASCISM
and the right to live life on one’s own choice stands out of the construction of the Fascism as
every man’s true purpose in life in keeping with his morality to live a life that contributes to
the State7. Fascism was one of the first totalitarian forms of government after monarchy and
also the bloodiest, after which Hitler’s Germany followed.
Fascism, in its root, was formed from the modern concept of industrialization, leading
to the understanding of the power it gave to the possessor. Though Mussolini never asserted
any inclination towards religion or god, the ideology showed the understanding the dictator
keeps in terms of his relationship with the State. The dictator becomes the stronger
personality whose will revolves around the construction of the society, which is better in
every single aspect, and anyone acting individually is the enemy of the State. The modern
concept of poison gas and the construction of the weapons provided him with the entity to run
the society, which harbored and grew out of fear. Fascism did not have any prior measuring
scale to comprehend the destruction laid out by him. However, after his death, destruction
and violence are measured with the Italian fascist scale of violence.
Bibliography
1. “The Doctrine of Fascism” (1932) by Benito Mussolini
2. "Making Of the Modern World, History 1DD3", pp. 279-309
7 “The Doctrine of Fascism”