Perhaps the most insidious piece of historical propaganda advanced by those on the political left is the notion that Fascism is a conservative philosophy. Entire generations of social studies middle-schoolers and political science co-eds have been falsely taught that Socialism and Fascism are at opposite ends of the political spectrum, Socialism being the ultimate left and Fascism being the ultimate right.
This fallacy has served Liberals well. Given the Nazi’s high jacking of the Fascist philosophy in the 1930’s, the word has become shorthand for the Holocaust and all things evil. Liberals thus delight in painting their enemies as Fascist. George W. Bush? Fascist! Rush Limbaugh? Fascist! Charlton Heston? Fascist! (come on, Moses? a Fascist? Seriously?)
Yet, as with so many Progressive Liberal arguments, this outlook is diametrically at odds with reality. The truth is that Fascism spawned from the same populist germ as Socialism and Progressivism. That is, the pursuit of societal perfection through the “expertise” of government directive and control: Communism through abolition of private property, Progressivism and Fascism through the state’s increasingly absolute control of “private” property.
In one the better books I’ve read in some time, Jonah Goldberg goes to fair-toned and well-reasoned lengths to illustrate this truth. Beginning with original Progressive/Fascist, Woodrow Wilson, Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning dispels the common illusion that Fascism is a right-wing phenomenon, peeling back the misconceptions wrought by Nazism and the revised historical narrative.
Beginning with Progressivism in the early 20th century, Goldberg methodically exposes the philosophical parallels (and mutual admiration) inherent in Progressivism, Socialism, and Fascism. Far from the laissez-faire, limited government principles of Classic Liberalism (i.e. modern day Conservatism and Libertarianism), the author highlights the common adherence to heavy government-control held mutually sacred from Wilson and Mussolini, to Hitler and Franklin Roosevelt, through JFK and modern day liberals (like Hillary Clinton and especially Barak Obama).
So if you’re a Conservative-leaning thinker, or even just someone who enjoys the fair-minded truth, I highly recommend this book. On the other hand if you lean to left, be forewarned: an objective reading of this work will forever deprive you of the vitriolic “Fascist” label for those on the right side of the argument.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Anne // Apr 28, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Sounds like a good read and I’ll add it to my list. Having seen Expelled last Saturday, I have little hope that the ones who Should read this book Will read this book. The ones who pride themselves on being open-minded are the same ones who don’t want academic inquiry to flourish in the areas they don’t espouse.
2 Crian // May 3, 2008 at 10:54 am
I actually saw this book in the shop however I didn’t pick it up, I will say this though. Anne is right, not really interested in someone ridiculing liberal philosophy though I do accept that it in part stems from facism.
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