Socialism, Communism, Fascism

Let’s Review… Liberalism was a reaction to feudal society, involving:  focus on the individual, idea of responsible gov’t, support for Laissez-Faire capitalism, belief in individual rights and freedoms Conservatism was a reaction to Liberalism, involving:  desire to preserve tradition, support for common values, belief in strong gov’t control, idea that hierarchy and inequality were natural, support for aristocracies, suspicion of Laissez-Faire capitalism

Comparing the two… LIBERALISM man is naturally good gov’t should interfere as little as possible in economic and social lives individual rights are most important people give gov’t the authority to rule, and can take it away if they are unhappy CONSERVATISM man can be evil gov’t should control economic and social/moral lives stability and order of society most important class hierarchy is natural, and so right to rule is hereditary

Socialism a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, characterized by: –rejection of the idea that the wealthy “deserve their wealth” because they created it - but instead an argument that wealthy exploit working classes –vision of society based on economic equality –belief in cooperation, production for benefit of all –idea of public ownership of means of production

Socialism vs. Liberalism AGREE that… all people deserve equal treatment DISAGREE about… unlike Liberalism, Socialism did not believe people could develop individually Socialism is not suspicious of the state – in fact, Socialists rely on gov’t to regulate services and to provide for common good

Marx and Socialism German Socialist writer (1818 – 1883) believed society wasn’t made up of individuals, but of CLASSES (based on economics) argued some classes were oppressed by others during his lifetime, he looked at the working classes and argued they were oppressed by the capitalist classes – and that this was wrong Marx envisioned the working class taking over the gov’t (through revolution) and then the gov’t taking over all industry

Marxism to Communism Many Socialists disagreed with Marx’s ideas on: need for revolution complete abolition of all private ownership 1848: Marx and Engels publish the COMMUNIST MANIFESTO

Communism Communism is characterized by: idea that history is guided by class struggle desire to establish a classless, stateless society belief in the abolition of all private ownership, belief that this will come about through revolution The immediate aim of the Communists is the… formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat." - Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto, 1848

Communism vs. Socialism Communism emerged out of Socialism – and early communists considered themselves socialist For modern communists: Communism is an advanced stage of Socialism  Socialism is the stage between Capitalism (which is bad) and Communism (which is perfect) Communism in practice has moved significantly away from the theory – disconnecting it from Socialism

Fascism a reaction to the rise of Liberalism, Socialism and Communism developed in Italy under Mussolini flourished in economically unstable countries prior to WWII

Fascism vs. Communism Both were dictatorial in nature and both deprived individuals of their rights within society… BUT Communism proposed revolution to overthrow capitalism and ban private ownership called for a ‘withering away of the state’ with eventual cooperative public control Fascism gov’t works within capitalism – works with people who control production to improve state economy exalted the state above all, and used police and military to control people

Why did Fascism object to Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism and Communism? Fascists saw these other ideologies as having failed because they couldn’t bring stability Fascism is based on idea of absolute state In a fascist state, citizens are obliged “to believe, to obey, to combat” for the good of the state – this is the direct opposite of the 19 th century ideals of individual liberty and freedom

Let’s Summarize… SOCIALISM man is naturally good – a bad environment makes people bad gov’t should regulate economy – public ownership equality is important, but the common good is the ultimate goal people give gov’t authority, and can take it away  change happens through REFORM COMMUNISM man is perfectible eventually, the state will wither away and people will not need gov’t all goods will be held in common equality is important, but the common good is the ultimate goal people consent to be governed until the state withers away – starts with REVOLUTION

To continue… FASCISM man needs to be controlled…remember Hobbes? the state is all important – the individual is only important insofar as how s/he contributes to the state the gov’t controls all aspects of life – this brings stability and order the people have no control over gov’t, and no right to rebel against gov’t enemies of the state will be dealt with harshly

Final Questions How does historical context explain the development of the 5 major ideologies we have studied? Which of these ideologies do you consider: –most beneficial? –most realistic? –most effective?