When did the definition of fascism change?

Question

In high school, and in college in the early '80's, the definition was different then than it seems to be now. The definition then was: Fascism is an economic system that allows private ownership of property, but the government controls all use of that property. I was also taught that fascism was only viable under two forms of government, a socialist government(Nazi Germany under Hitler) and dictatorships (Iraq under Saddam). These were two of the examples that I was taught.
I am not sure I understand "todays" definition, which seems to be conservatism.

Answer 1

The fourteen points of Fascism were laid out in the Fifties as people were trying to understand why WW2 happened.

Your definition I have never seen in all my 60 years as well as when I was at school. Fascism was at one end of the spectrum and Communism was at the other. That was what was taught in the 1950's.

Since then we have come to realize that Communism was just another form of Fascism at the far authoritarian right, and that Socialism (the real Western European version), Democracy, and Freedom at the far anti-authoritarian left.

Authoritarian Propagandists used a lot of anti-authoritarian words ( like People's, Democratic, Socialist, etc.) to describe themselves, but the reality proved otherwise. This became especially obvious when Russia collapsed, and instead of Russia and China becoming places of freedom the aparachiks merely changed the titles on their offices from Commissar to CEO.

The Authoritarian Personality has always defined the Political Right, and only massive propaganda to cloud that point has ever given them credibility,

Answer 2

The Definition Of Fascism

Answer 3

I've never seen fasiscm referred to as an economic model, dealing with property ownership -- by dictionary definition -- it was always a political model, dealing with who made the rules.

Fascism under the dictionary definitions I've seen is an authoritarian right-wing govt, which opposes freedom and liberalism and personal autonomy.

It is not the same as conservatism -- though on the same half of the spectrum -- conservatism is right wing, and respects tradition and promotes conformity. Fascism mandates conformity and crushes any attempt at change -- a much more vehement and fanatic approach than 'normal' conservatism.

But assuming the economic model definition you give -- it could easily exist under any political (rule-making) model, from pure democracy to tyranny -- just like socialism (which is an economic model, not a political model) and communism can exist under any political model. They have just more commonly been attempted under the more authoritarian regimes.

So, I'd be interested in seeing those alternate definitions -- since none of the dictionaries I've checked (including some decades old ones) use that approach.

Answer 4

It replaced while the left mandatory to distance themselves from it on account that socialism/progresiveism/fascism are all very heavily tied in coverage. They further the racial ingredient in the Nineteen Fifties and 60s to make it look like fascism became right into a 'acceptable wing' ideology even nonetheless ALL authoritarian and totalitarian ideologies are left wing. And Shovel waiting is incorrect on the subject of the racial component of fascism. Spanish and Italian fascism had no racial component of them by any skill. It became into Hitler and the Nazi's who presented race into the gadget. Mussolini usually handed over Hitler's calls to wipe the Jews out in Italy and purely after the Germans took over in 1943 (and Mussolini became into ineffective) did any severe rounding up of the Jews take place. eastern fascism became into Xenophobic to boot yet that became into by using fact Japan became into Xenophobic and not by using fact they have been fascist.

Answer 5

It didn't change. You were just propagandized unfortunately. Much like ppl in the 50s were brainwashed into believing Communist were demons that were in works with the devil.

Fascism is not an economic system but communism is. Fascism is a political ideology... one that believes a specific group has the authority to dictate to others how to live, etc...

Here I will paste wiki for you:
Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests subordinate to the needs of the state. Fascists seek to forge a type of national unity, usually based on (but not limited to) ethnic, cultural, or racial attributes. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: nationalism, authoritarianism, statism, militarism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, corporatism, populism, and opposition to economic and political liberalism.

Answer 6

Actually, by your own definition, we are dangerously close.

"Allows private ownership of property, but the government controls all use of that property"

Granted, the government doesn't control ALL use. However, with each passing year, government recieves more and more money from big bussiness, and bussiness relies more and more on government for bail-outs and tax breaks.

To deny that corporate America and our elected leaders are in bed is to close your eyes to a very real problem. Lobbyists spend BILLIONS in our country to buy votes. Our politicians are becoming puppets.

When the politicians represent big bussiness, the end result is just the same as if the government controlled the bussiness. Either way, the laws are structured to avoid competition and weed out the little guy.

Answer 7

Fascism is an authoritarian right-wing govt, which opposes freedom and liberalism and personal autonomy. I'm unfamiliar with an economic model of fascism but i am sure that its definition even from an economic standpoint is not conservatism.

Answer 8

Dictionaries defined fascism as a political system based on the merging of corporate interests with government until the 1940's when large corporations began buying up dictionary publishers. At that point the definition was changed to what we find today so as to be more compatible with, and harmless to, their corporate ambitions.

The 1973 edition of The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism."

The term "fascism" was established in history. It's historical meaning and application defines it. "Fascism [was] founded in 1919 by Benito Mussolini" - http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Fascism_def_char_hx.html

So we can look at that history and see what Mussolini said about it.

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini (from Encyclopedia Italiana, Giovanni Gentile, editor).

Actually, Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile wrote “Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.” Mussolini signed his name to the entry and claimed credit for it.

Mussolini defined fascism as being a right-wing ideology in opposition to socialism, liberalism, democracy and individualism. He said in "The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism":

"Granted that the 19th century was the century of socialism, liberalism, democracy, this does not mean that the 20th century must also be the century of socialism, liberalism, democracy. Political doctrines pass; nations remain. We are free to believe that this is the century of authority, a century tending to the 'right', a Fascist century. If the 19th century was the century of the individual (liberalism implies individualism) we are free to believe that this is the 'collective' century, and therefore the century of the State." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facism

"The economic system inaugurated by the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy. It was adapted in modified form under other European dictatorships, among them Adolf Hitler's National Socialist regime in Germany and the Spanish regime of Francisco Franco. Although the Italian system was based upon unlimited government control of economic life, it still preserved the framework of capitalism. Legislation of 1926 and later years set up guilds, or associations, of employees and employers to administer various sectors of the national economy. These were represented in the national council of corporations. The corporations were generally weighted by the state in favor of the wealthy classes, and they served to combat socialism and syndicalism by absorbing the trade union movement. The Italian corporative state aimed in general at reduced consumption in the interest of militarization." - http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Fascism_def_char_hx.html

It is no surprise that the right now tries so hard to distance themselves from fascism.

Answer 9

now it is just a slur for anyone who doesn't think the way a person does, but your teacher may of been wrong,it happens.

fascism is a form of government where the power of the state is more important than anything else, and the governments right of existence is more important than anything Else.

Answer 10

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