Communism and Fascism CASE STUDIES: RUSSIA AND GERMANY

Communism Arose from the philosophy of Karl Marx (1840s-1880s) ◦Basis: “Historical Materialism” ◦Material (economic) forces shape history and politics. ◦EXAMPLE (mode of production): ◦Feudalism (manorialism)  peasants tied to the land, all-powerful lords, monarchy ◦As material forces change – so do the political, social, and ideological systems. ◦EXAMPLE (mode of production): ◦Capitalism  liberal democracy, all men of property, free wage labor Drogus, Carol Ann, and Stephen Orvis. Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011.

Communism Con’t Marx saw liberal democracy as the shell which allows capitalism to function: ◦Liberal rights as “equal rights for unequal people.” *Proletariat ◦Only wealthy “bourgeoisie” classes (owners of capital) had real, meaningful political power. *Argued that all modes of production (i.e. feudalism, capitalism) created tensions and contradictions which lead to social revolutions.

Communist Revolution Stage 1: Dictatorship of the Proletariat Stage 2: Higher Communism -- “Communist Utopia” Problem? He did not write in detail about what this communist society and its government would look like.

Fascism Origins – 1880s – 1920s. Wholeheartedly taken up by Benito Mussolini – Italian writer and politician, who led Italy during WW2. Rejects both liberalism and communism. Basis: conceptualizes society as a living organism rather than separate groups and individuals: The state is dominant within society. Brain. Society as the body and personality of the state. State interests are dominate over individual interests. Corporatism Each nation as a historical force that must struggle to maximize its position and power in the world. Mussolini openly admitted that a fascist state should be totalitarian. (unlike communism) Drogus, Carol Ann, and Stephen Orvis. Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011.

CASE STUDIES: RUSSIA AND GERMANY - In pairs, you will read a case study on Russia or Germany. You will write down what you discover on the appropriate section of the t-chart. - When you have completed your t-chart, you will pair up with someone who read the opposite case-study and exchange information. - Note: Be sure to note key events, as well as how the course of communism and fascism develops and plays out in the case studies.