Be a Fascist
Fascism (from the Latin word fascis) is an oft-misunderstood ideology, equated with war and violent tyranny. Both the modern-day left and right wings use it as a buzzword for anything that they consider to be threatening, be it increased state authority or socialized medicine.
Fascism is some ways quite a visionary ideology, but is also quite traditionalist, built around the principles of nationalism, authoritarianism, and mass action. As a totalitarian ideology, it embraces the State as an organic and all-encompassing entity, and demands the mass mobilization of the populace to actively participate in the running of their State.
Steps
- Read up on the writings of Fascist authors and of those who inspired them. Enrico Corradini, Julius Evola, and Corneliu Codreanu are all excellent sources on Fascist/proto-Fascist ideology. Among the more philosophic roots of Fascism are rejection of decadence and materialism, and the value of action over compromise. Fascism views life as a constant struggle, and so to be a Fascist is to be a human of strength and willpower.
- Read up on your own country’s history. To apply Fascism, one must have a spirit of Nationalism - valuing the legacy of your country’s people, and putting their interests before yourself and before the rest of the world. Take pride in your ancestor’s accomplishments, and strive to do good in their name and uphold your country’s noblest traditions. Action begins at the local level, so find opportunities to volunteer around town. In Fascism, what is good for the community is good for the People and the State.
- Understand how Fascism differs from both modern left-wing and right-wing thought. Fascism rejects electoral democracy, because it sees democracy as simply enabling politicians to lie to the people to get in power, and thus the leaders do not truly represent the People. Instead, Fascism believes in putting together a system where those fit to rule ensure that power stays in the right hands, and so power is passed through a dynastic or oligarchic system. Understand that in a Fascist country, you will not always get to vote for your leader, but your voice can still be heard in public forum meetings or referendums, for example.
- Understand the economics of Fascism. Fascism rejects Capitalism on the grounds that it is too individualistic and that wealthy corporations will abuse their power, such as underpaying workers or outsourcing jobs. However, Fascism also rejects Communism on the grounds that it does away with private property and thus the incentive to work completely, as well as promoting the notion of class warfare. Instead of class warfare Fascism believes in class collaboration - the different classes must all work together to help strengthen their community and their State. Fascism advocates a mixed economy where people can own property and open their own businesses, but major corporations must always be answerable to the will of the State, and must always serve the common good of the People.
- Understand how Fascism views war. In Fascism, war is not always promoted, but it is seen as something that can’t always be avoided. Fascism views war as acceptable in defense, but also as a valid option for securing natural resources and land for the good of the people. Fascism sees war as an opportunity for the People to mobilize around a common goal and achieve victory, and so a strong military is always a must.
Tips
- Fascism is a relatively unfinished ideology. It is fluid, and can be tailored to suit the needs of any particular country. Don’t be afraid to think progressively in how Fascism can be applied to your country.
- Don’t mistake Fascism for something like Nazism. Nazism is quite different, particularly in its inherently racist ideology and justification of genocide. Fascist leaders such as Mussolini were quite different than Nazis like Hitler. Educate yourself on how they are different, and if someone thinks the two are the same, politely correct them.
- Understand that there is no one 'Fascism' - Fascism is more of a worldview than an ideology. By applying the worldview to the current situation your nation is in when determining what you want for your nation, you can determine the best course of action. The fascist movements of the past are not export ideologies, as they are all products of their time and their environment, so Italian Fascism would not necessarily work in a modern setting.
- Connect with other Fascists. Joining communities such as Iron March can be very helpful in learning about and understanding Fascism.
Warnings
- Don’t go around calling yourself a Fascist. In today’s modern world, the “f-word” will cause people to label you and refuse to listen to anything you have to say. If you want to talk about Fascism with someone, talk about its varying component ideas, such as nationalism and class collaboration. If someone finds themselves agreeing with you, tell them that what you have just described is Fascism.
- Due to Fascism’s totalitarian nature, this means that certain other ideologies like Communism cannot be tolerated in Fascism as they are viewed as subversive to the well-being of the State, and so freedom of speech cannot always be guaranteed for such dissidents.
