'...goal of fascism itself—to crush any chance of revolutionary working-class power.'
Such fascist forces truly are immoral, inhumane and cruel! They've completely abandoned their conscience and are solely driven by toxic greed for power and profits and their arrogance.
Good essay! That was an enjoyable read and I agree with a lot of your class analysis. I definitely agree that fascism is anti-leftist, anti-communist, anti-socialist; what I am unsure about is whether fascism is entirely an expression of capitalism. I think it has a lot of things in common with capitalism, but I think they are ultimately different things. Capitalism, when threatened by real or perceived leftist energy, makes common cause with a fascist movement and tries to control it to the benefit of capitalism. If it succeeds, it can put down the left and assume greater control of the state (such as under Franco); but there is always the risk that it will fail to control the fascist movement and will itself be consumed by it. I don't think fascism is anti-worker, I think it is anti-class consciousness. Fascism offers oppressed workers an alternative to communist revolution; fascism tells workers not to see themselves as workers, but as part of the nation. It claims, falsely, that what will improve workers' situation is devotion to the nation, not devotion to their class. This is why it is attractive, initially, to capital.
Tend to agree with this. I think fascism is primarily capitalist in nature in a capitalist economy but it certainly isn't neo-liberal. It is protectionist and the nation state lies at the heart of it.
But, it is certainly does protect the interests of capital and it's obssesion with the left seems connected to that.
I’m not persuaded. You make it appear rational when it is a maniacal expression of the irrational. I don’t doubt that fascists have a visceral hatred of the traditional left. However the adherents follow with great enthusiasm even if they are of the working class. In my mind it is a mental illness.
I think most people act rationally, or at least logically. It is just built often built on faulty information and poor tools in examining things, particularly information, critically.
Having education and intelligence is no guarantee of arriving at truth. As for Adorno I know little about him but what I do know is that he is deeply obscure.
This is a great article helping to clarify what fascism really is. I feel like the term is bandied about so often these days that it’s begun to loose its meaning, which is an extremely dangerous thing given how real fascism is lurking on the horizon. I really like the way you discussed the history of fascist Italy and Germany.
Really a very insightful and critical dissection of Fascism. It quite well applies to the emerging fascist tendencies in the present ruling dispensation in India by constructing imaginery enemies to Hindu and India, as much as it applies to MAGA, or Israel. Excellent and timely piece. Thanks
this is a fantastic article. well written and very timely. i have two questions:
1) What is the difference between finance capital and monopoly capital? I just finished reading Blood In My Eye by George Jackson and he refers often to monopoly capital but never to finance capital. Are the two terms interchangeable?
1) Monopoly capital in modern capitalist society is 'subordinated' and at the same time integrated into finance capital. They aren't interchangeable (finance capital is the most 'developed form' in the sense that accumulation mainly takes place in the form of finance capital) but monopoly capital requires finance capital accumulation to maintain profitability.
I think Hilferding explains it pretty well in the introduction of his 1910 work on finance capital:
"The most characteristic features of `modern' capitalism are those processes of concentration which, on the one hand, `eliminate free competition' through the formation of cartels and trusts, and on the other, bring hank and industrial capital into an ever more intimate relationship. Through this relationship – as will be demonstrated later – capital assumes the form of finance capital, its supreme and most abstract expression."
Monopoly capital takes the form of those formations of cartels and trusts (broadly, in practice it isn't that clear cut) while bank capital (finance capital) becomes its prime motor, and subordinates it to its particular needs (primarily modern imperialism).
2) I will never put out an article without spelling errors. It's literally impossible. Thanks for pointing it out!
thank you! the only reason i brought up the Sartre thing was that i saw “Satre” and thought “oh, that guy’s name is really similar to Sartre’s”. i definitely wasn’t trying to nitpick. i was just wondering if it really was a different person with a very similar name.
it’s always wild to me how much my brain fills in when i’m reading my own work, especially on a screen. i worked for a publisher once and their books always went through a bunch of editors and production people before publication. one time the Tennessee Handbook made it all the way to color proofs with “Tennesse” on the first page in 70pt type. brains are funny.
'...goal of fascism itself—to crush any chance of revolutionary working-class power.'
Such fascist forces truly are immoral, inhumane and cruel! They've completely abandoned their conscience and are solely driven by toxic greed for power and profits and their arrogance.
Good essay! That was an enjoyable read and I agree with a lot of your class analysis. I definitely agree that fascism is anti-leftist, anti-communist, anti-socialist; what I am unsure about is whether fascism is entirely an expression of capitalism. I think it has a lot of things in common with capitalism, but I think they are ultimately different things. Capitalism, when threatened by real or perceived leftist energy, makes common cause with a fascist movement and tries to control it to the benefit of capitalism. If it succeeds, it can put down the left and assume greater control of the state (such as under Franco); but there is always the risk that it will fail to control the fascist movement and will itself be consumed by it. I don't think fascism is anti-worker, I think it is anti-class consciousness. Fascism offers oppressed workers an alternative to communist revolution; fascism tells workers not to see themselves as workers, but as part of the nation. It claims, falsely, that what will improve workers' situation is devotion to the nation, not devotion to their class. This is why it is attractive, initially, to capital.
Tend to agree with this. I think fascism is primarily capitalist in nature in a capitalist economy but it certainly isn't neo-liberal. It is protectionist and the nation state lies at the heart of it.
But, it is certainly does protect the interests of capital and it's obssesion with the left seems connected to that.
I’m not persuaded. You make it appear rational when it is a maniacal expression of the irrational. I don’t doubt that fascists have a visceral hatred of the traditional left. However the adherents follow with great enthusiasm even if they are of the working class. In my mind it is a mental illness.
I sort of agree with you, but I wouldn't use the phrase mental illness. I think I prefer "psychological contagion," but maybe I am being too pedantic
Maybe my use of a pathological analogy is a little emotive. I definitely see it as a depravity of some sort.
I think most people act rationally, or at least logically. It is just built often built on faulty information and poor tools in examining things, particularly information, critically.
Let’s say that’s charitable of you. Lack of critical capacity causes people to seek out that which reinforces their fears and prejudices.
But then you get some cases of people with clearly a high critical capacity who come to conclusions that seem to not serve them in any way.
I wonder if Adorno might be clarifying here? Certainly on my reading list.
Having education and intelligence is no guarantee of arriving at truth. As for Adorno I know little about him but what I do know is that he is deeply obscure.
thank you for probably the most succinct summation of this fucking bullshit
This is a great article helping to clarify what fascism really is. I feel like the term is bandied about so often these days that it’s begun to loose its meaning, which is an extremely dangerous thing given how real fascism is lurking on the horizon. I really like the way you discussed the history of fascist Italy and Germany.
Exquisite depth and style, thanks for this.
Really a very insightful and critical dissection of Fascism. It quite well applies to the emerging fascist tendencies in the present ruling dispensation in India by constructing imaginery enemies to Hindu and India, as much as it applies to MAGA, or Israel. Excellent and timely piece. Thanks
this is a fantastic article. well written and very timely. i have two questions:
1) What is the difference between finance capital and monopoly capital? I just finished reading Blood In My Eye by George Jackson and he refers often to monopoly capital but never to finance capital. Are the two terms interchangeable?
2) Do you mean Sartre? You have Satre...
Thanks!
Thank you for reading!
1) Monopoly capital in modern capitalist society is 'subordinated' and at the same time integrated into finance capital. They aren't interchangeable (finance capital is the most 'developed form' in the sense that accumulation mainly takes place in the form of finance capital) but monopoly capital requires finance capital accumulation to maintain profitability.
I think Hilferding explains it pretty well in the introduction of his 1910 work on finance capital:
"The most characteristic features of `modern' capitalism are those processes of concentration which, on the one hand, `eliminate free competition' through the formation of cartels and trusts, and on the other, bring hank and industrial capital into an ever more intimate relationship. Through this relationship – as will be demonstrated later – capital assumes the form of finance capital, its supreme and most abstract expression."
Monopoly capital takes the form of those formations of cartels and trusts (broadly, in practice it isn't that clear cut) while bank capital (finance capital) becomes its prime motor, and subordinates it to its particular needs (primarily modern imperialism).
2) I will never put out an article without spelling errors. It's literally impossible. Thanks for pointing it out!
thank you! the only reason i brought up the Sartre thing was that i saw “Satre” and thought “oh, that guy’s name is really similar to Sartre’s”. i definitely wasn’t trying to nitpick. i was just wondering if it really was a different person with a very similar name.
it’s always wild to me how much my brain fills in when i’m reading my own work, especially on a screen. i worked for a publisher once and their books always went through a bunch of editors and production people before publication. one time the Tennessee Handbook made it all the way to color proofs with “Tennesse” on the first page in 70pt type. brains are funny.