What is the difference between Fascism and Socialism?

Answer 1

When they tend to totalitarianism, as they often seem to, not much. I think a lot more useful distinction is a continuum from freedom to totalitarianism.

Answer 2

There has never been a general definition of fascism. Unlike socialism which has clearly defined ideologies and programs the various parties that most people call "fascist" tend to diverge on many of the points that are often associated with "fascists." For example fascists are racists. Well that is true if you consider Nazi Germany as a fascist state. But the inventor of fascism Mussolini lacked the obsession with race and anti-Semitism that characterized Germany.
The real problem with fascism is that the term has been used so often as a pejorative term that there may never be an accepted definition. Nowadays any politician that supports a cause someone does not like is a "fascist."

Answer 3

They're very different. Extreme socialism under a dictator, like Stalinist Russia, tends to look a lot like fascism, but that's not what socialism is meant to look like.
Fascism is a system under which everything is centered on one leader. (Hitler or Mussolini for example) - and where the leader has absolute rule over everything. It is characterized by a strong reliance on the military, a subversion of all forces (Market forces, education, religion, etc...) to the service of the state, the denunciation of enemies against which the people are called upon to mobilize against, territorial expansion through war, etc... A fascist regime is absolutely totalitarian. The leader is seen as the savior of the nation and is not to be questioned.
Socialism is a move away from private enterprise and a declaration that the state has a right to nationalize businesses if it feels it can run them for the greater good. Socialism tends to advocate nationalized transport, education, communication, medicine, and other large industries, but (Unlike communism) will allow for a certain free market to co-exist with the government. There is not that much emphasis on a leader in socialist countries. Governments can be quite democratic, although economic freedom is limited. There is not normally such an emphasis on military strength in a socialist state, which are usually more concerned about the welfare of society. (Modern-day France is a moderate socialist state).

Answer 4

Quite a large one. Though Socialism means different things to different people, in today's context it probably is best defined as a market economy which is quite strongly regulated by the Government. Stong welfare programmes are also typical of Socialist governments.

Examples of such Governments in the 20th/21st Centuries would be the US under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Australia under Gough Whitlam (though tending more towards Democratic Socialism) and, topically, Chile under Salvador Allende (though tending more towards out-and-out Communism)

There is no one trait which identifies a regime as Fascist, however, typically a fascist government tends towards:

* Romanticising a certain period of the nation's history (eg the Spanish Empire under Franco, times of Norse Paganism under Hitler, and of course, the Roman Empire under Mussolini)

* Near-worship of the nation's military and the glorification of war

* A limited market economy, with the government favouring a few large companies (eg in Nazi Germany: BMW, Krupp, IG Farben etc) in a near-monopoly situation

* Others, which I currently don't have time to list. A Wikipedia search will turn them up though

Answer 5

First, Iansand is correct. Both lead to statist governments that are authoritarian. Socialism was supposed to put the means of production (factories) into the ownership of the workers. Another principle of socialism was: To each according to his need; from each according to his ability. Fascism was to be a government- state-sponsored socialism. The government was to supervise industry and labor. Syndicates of companies in industries were to be run by the government. Unions also were to be supervised by the government. The government would dictate economic policy, industry trade, and labor peace.

Answer 6

The Kitty pretty much nailed it. It's also worth noting that fascism is characterized by intense nationalism and loyalty to the fatherland, whereas socialism tends to be more welfare-oriented.