Fascism Compare/Contrast

Though major differences exist between Italian Fascism and Nazism, these diffirences have largely concerned the degrees to which each was able to successfully implement fascist ideology. In ideological and rhetorical terms, they both remain essentially fascist. At their core, they are both fiercely nationalistic, militaristic, imperialistic, revolutionary, anti-communist, and anti-liberalistic. They both sought an economic third way between communism and capitalism that would eradicate class struggle without eradicating private property. They both sought to gain economic and military dominance for their country or race through consolidation and patriotism, despite of or at the expense of other races or countries. They both sought to excise divergent elements and faction within their societies that they believed prevented their nation or race from attaining that dominance. They were not equally successful in realizing these goals, but the goals they strove remain essentially the same. 1

At the center of fascism, lies the belief that individuals must band together for the health and strength of the group especially to protect themselves from rival groups. The one major ideological divergence between Italian Fascism and Nazism lies in this belief. Both concurred that the group superseded the individual in importance and that individuals must channel their individuals energies into the group; they only differed as to what exactly constituted the group. For the the Italians it was the nation of Italy itself, and for the Germans it was the Aryan race which itself transcended national borders.2

A core tenet of fascism held that conflict and war was a natural human state, and that only through war could the nation come to realize its full potential. Fascism seeks power through consolidation, to gain national strength by minimizing the importance of the indivdual and channeling the energy of individuals collectively into the welfare of the group. War served as as a chance for renewal by many fascists in line with their revolutionary ideology. By banding together, citizens could gain strength through war and that strength could help them throw off the decadent and ineffective democracies of the past. This newfound comraderie channeld into a fascist government would in turn eliminated class struggle and other subversive factions that had formally encouraged fragmentation and weakened society. This argument is employed by Giovanni Papini in The War as a Source of National Renewal. To the fascists of both Italy and Germany, war and imperialism was a chance for rebirth for their people.