fascism

is a political system involving political economy, charismatic leadership, perceived crisis, the degeneration of state authority, and nationalism (but can also appear as pan-european white supremacist).

a 'spectralsyncretic' approach based on four ideological themes: (i) the emphasis onnatural history and social Darwinism, indicating a pessimistic acceptance ofthe human need to dominate and the capacity of rulers to resist the degenerationof state authority in the interests of maximizing the potential of thenation... (ii) the influence of geopolitics and the defence of European culture,suggesting that while fascism is nationalist in orientation, some forms ofnational socialism are pan-European and white supremacist... (iii) the importanceof political economy in Italy and Germany, in which anti-capitalist,rural-ecologist and third-way tendencies were overshadowed by support forbusiness... and (iv) the importance of charismatic leadership a political valuein itself, albeit one linked to the exceptional conditions and the manipulationof crisis by fascist leaders for instrumental ends (Eatwell 1992).

is a political system that stresses style, action, and the charismatic leader more than detailed programs, and engages in the manichaean demonization of its enemies. It is highly opportunistic so difficult to pin down.

From this perspective, he offers an alternative definition of fascism as 'an ideology that strives to forge rebirth based on a holistic-national Third Way, though in practice fascism has tended to stress style, especially action and the charismatic leader, more than detailed programme, and to engage in a Manichean demonization of its enemies' (Eatwell 1996: 313... cf. Eatwell 2007b).

EatwellThinkers

Eatwell