The ideology of today's parties on the extreme right of the political spectrum is often also
promulgated'neo-fascism' to exhibit an affiliation to the fascist parties of the inter-war period.
Whether this label is appropriate or fails to read the new extreme right's political agenda will
be examined by this paper. In order to do so, it will first clarify who we address when
speaking about the term 'fascism', then it will point out the defining characteristics of the
fascist ideology in order to compare it finally with the set of ideas of the new extreme right.
First of all one needs to illuminate the terms 'fascism' and the 'new extreme right'. The first
one always refers to Italian fascism under Benito Mussolini between 1922 to 1943 and,
although lightly different, the German nationalsocialist model, developed and carried out by
Adolf Hitler and th Nationalsocialist German Worker's Party. Moreover there were several
other fascist parties in Europe throughout the inter-war period, namely Heimwehr (also:
Austro Fascists) or the Union Movement in Britain, but many more as well, which however,
could never gain as much influence as the preceding examples. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Defining Fascism and the New Extreme Right
- Characteristics of Fascism
- The New Extreme Right: Differences from Traditional Fascism
- Similarities Between Fascism and the New Extreme Right
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the extent to which contemporary extreme right-wing ideologies differ from those of historical fascist parties. It examines the defining characteristics of fascism and compares them to the ideologies of modern extreme right-wing parties.
- Defining characteristics of fascism
- Ideological differences between historical fascism and contemporary extreme right-wing parties
- Similarities between historical fascism and contemporary extreme right-wing parties
- The role of populism in both ideologies
- Analysis of nationalism and economic policies in both ideologies
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory section establishes the paper's central question: to what extent does contemporary extreme right ideology differ from that of "old" fascist parties? It sets the stage for the analysis by outlining the approach – defining fascism, identifying its characteristics, and comparing it to the ideologies of the new extreme right. The author clearly intends to examine whether the label "neo-fascism" accurately reflects the political agendas of modern extreme right parties.
Defining Fascism and the New Extreme Right: This chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent comparison. It defines fascism by referencing Italian Fascism under Mussolini and German National Socialism under Hitler, acknowledging variations among other European fascist movements of the interwar period. The chapter also identifies the contemporary extreme right parties that are the focus of the analysis, such as the British National Party and the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, clearly establishing the scope of the study.
Characteristics of Fascism: This section details the defining features of fascism, such as its rejection of liberal democracy and individualism, its totalitarian nature, and the importance of the leadership principle. It also emphasizes fascism's glorification of action and violence, its use of propaganda and symbolism, and the role of racial and social Darwinist ideas, especially prominent in German National Socialism. The chapter provides a robust framework for the later comparison with contemporary movements.
The New Extreme Right: Differences from Traditional Fascism: This section explores the key differences between the ideologies of traditional fascism and those of contemporary extreme right-wing parties. It highlights the new extreme right's adoption of a more respectable public image, abandoning overtly extremist ideological baggage in democratic systems. The chapter also discusses their differing approaches to democracy; many of these modern parties do not aim to abolish the free democratic order, instead working within the system. This contrasts sharply with the explicitly totalitarian nature of historical fascism.
Similarities Between Fascism and the New Extreme Right: This chapter identifies areas of similarity between the two ideologies. While acknowledging the significant differences, the author explores commonalities such as the use of populist strategies to appeal to voters, including the identification of clear enemies and the promotion of simple solutions to complex problems. Shared nationalist sentiments, albeit with variations in expression, are also highlighted. The use of "welfare chauvinism," prioritizing national interests in welfare distribution, is identified as another area of convergence. However, significant differences are noted concerning racism, with traditional fascism emphasizing racial and genetic differences, while the new extreme right focuses more on cultural dissimilarities.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Fascism, neo-fascism, extreme right, populism, nationalism, welfare chauvinism, totalitarianism, democracy, immigration, racism, ideology, political parties, comparative analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Fascism and the New Extreme Right
What is the main focus of this text?
This text provides a comparative analysis of historical fascism (as exemplified by Italian Fascism and German National Socialism) and contemporary extreme right-wing ideologies. The central question is to what extent these ideologies differ, examining similarities and differences in their characteristics, strategies, and goals.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include defining characteristics of fascism, ideological differences between historical fascism and contemporary extreme right-wing parties, similarities between both, the role of populism, nationalism and economic policies in both, and the use of "welfare chauvinism". The analysis also considers how the new extreme right parties work within democratic systems, unlike the explicitly totalitarian nature of historical fascism.
How does the text define fascism?
The text defines fascism by referencing Italian Fascism under Mussolini and German National Socialism under Hitler, acknowledging variations among other European fascist movements of the interwar period. Key characteristics highlighted include the rejection of liberal democracy and individualism, a totalitarian nature, the importance of the leadership principle, glorification of action and violence, use of propaganda and symbolism, and the role of racial and social Darwinist ideas.
What are the key differences between historical fascism and the new extreme right?
The new extreme right often adopts a more respectable public image, abandoning overtly extremist ideological baggage in democratic systems. They frequently work within the existing democratic framework, unlike the explicitly totalitarian aims of historical fascism. While traditional fascism heavily emphasized racial and genetic differences, the new extreme right often focuses more on cultural dissimilarities.
What are the key similarities between historical fascism and the new extreme right?
Despite significant differences, similarities include the use of populist strategies (identifying clear enemies and promoting simple solutions), shared nationalist sentiments (although expressed differently), and the utilization of "welfare chauvinism" (prioritizing national interests in welfare distribution).
What is "welfare chauvinism," and how does it relate to both ideologies?
Welfare chauvinism refers to prioritizing national interests in welfare distribution. The text identifies this as a point of convergence between historical fascism and the new extreme right, indicating a shared focus on benefiting the national community at the potential expense of others.
What specific examples of contemporary extreme right-wing parties are analyzed?
The text mentions the British National Party and the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) as examples of contemporary extreme right-wing parties included in the comparative analysis.
What is the overall conclusion of the text?
The text aims to determine whether the label "neo-fascism" accurately reflects the political agendas of modern extreme right parties. While highlighting significant differences in approach and strategy, the analysis also illuminates crucial similarities that warrant further investigation into the ongoing evolution of far-right ideologies.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Fascism, neo-fascism, extreme right, populism, nationalism, welfare chauvinism, totalitarianism, democracy, immigration, racism, ideology, political parties, comparative analysis.
- Quote paper
- Felix Wiebrecht (Author), 2013, To what extent is contemporary extreme right ideology distinctive from that of 'old' fascist parties?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/271933
