There has been much debate lately, here on dKos and elsewhere, about the use and abuse of Nazism in our political discourse when discussing and arguing the political landscape today. This had led me to think about the ramifications of this discourse and if there isn't a seed of truth in it. Lot's of people, I believe correctly, have condemned the use of relating today's political climate to Nazism as watering down the experience of the Holocaust. Nevertheless, I believe something is happening and we should discern from empty rhetoric and legitimate concern.
Many people have asked the question, can we seriously use the term Fascism now in our political discourse? I believe yes, and here is my argument. My thesis is that today we are seeing the dawn of American Fascism. Not the lightly thrown-around use of the word, which has been discredited by uncareful use by protesters in the `60s, but rather the strict dictionary definition. Before you tell me to put my tin-foil hat away, let me begin by explaining what Fascism is. According to Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
1often capitalized :a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2:a tendency tow
Fascism must incorporate a heavy influence of industry onto the political regime with the support of a belligerent nationalism. The key is in the definition "exalts nation and often race above the individual". But what is a nation? A nation (from the Latin natio) is an ethnic group with language, literature, geography, etc. in common. When such a nation form a government, then it is a nation-state, defined as:
Main Entry: na·tion-state
Pronunciation: 'nA-sh&n-'stAt, -"stAt
Function: noun
:a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state; especially :a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities
If one ethnic group forms the nation-state and if this ethnic group exalts nationalism, on can argue (as one of my professors does) that the United States is in no way a nation state as we are a unique experiment in incorporating multiple nations (or ethnic groups) into our country and government. Therefore, we cannot expose the type of nationalism that is a prerequisite for Fascism, ergo; the US cannot be a Fascist state. Or can it?
The Enlightenment produced the first nation-state in France. The French revolution established a parliamentary system of government in which the bourgeoisie overthrew the ruling aristocratic and priestly caste system. This government was exclusively French as opposed to our earlier revolution, which found itself made up of several nations (British, German, Irish, Scot, etc.). Americans never rallied around nationalism, but we did have Patriotism. Patriotism being all the more inclusive than her sister nationalism as it included all American colonists of the time. This is our legacy just as the French still tend to have a nationalistic character.
We already observe that the military-industrial complex/energy consortium has great influence on our government and law establishing bodies. We have a very strong leader in office who has somewhat of a "personality cult" among his followers who ruthlessly denounces his critics and opposition, and we can also observe a belligerent patriotism. This patriotism functions as the American variant of nationalism.
Every form of Fascism must conform to its individual country or nation-state because of the necessary element of its definition. Fascism does not have to be anti-Semitic. In fact, according to John D. Miles, in his essay "Politics and the Art of Cultural Control: Aspects of 20th Century Art Movements'
[...] Until the Fascist program began to more closely resemble that of the Nazis in the mid 1930s, discrimination against ethnic groups such as Jews was not a consideration for the first fifteen years of the Fascist regime, as Italy did not have a particularly large Jewish population. During this time, many Jews were able to obtain high-ranking positions in the Italian military, Fascist Party and university system. [...]
Therefore, I would argue, that a Fascist regime in America is a possibility but we must not confuse it with black uniforms and jackboots marching down our streets. It will be tailored more toward an American patriotism wrapped in the American protestant ideal of hard work and deprivation of "things of the flesh". Rather than wrapping itself in the clothes of anti-Semitism, which will not work in this country, as it doesn't tug at out patriotic character as it did with the German psyche, it will wrap itself in the vestiges of American fundamental Christianity.
Therefore, my conclusion is that we should rightfully shun any relative arguments to the Holocaust, but it is appropriate at this time to mention Fascism in polite company.