THE RISE OF FASCISM: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS AND CONTEMPORARY
RELEVANCE
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Political ideologies such as fascism are defined by a strong emphasis on racial or national purity,
extreme nationalism, dictatorial power, and repression of dissent. As a reaction to the political and
economic upheavals that followed World War I, it evolved in the early 20th century. Fascist
governments aimed to unify society under a single, centralised government and were characterised
by their authoritarian leadership. Because of the ideology's emphasis on state power, the word
"fascism" itself comes from the Latin word "fasces," which refers to a bundle of rods that
represented authority in ancient Rome.1
Following World War I, Europe was dealing with political disillusionment, social unrest, and
economic instability, which contributed to the rise of fascism. 1921 saw the founding of the
National Fascist Party in Italy by former socialist Benito Mussolini. Capitalising on the discontent
among the populace over the post-war circumstances, Mussolini pledged stability and a revitalised
country. Fascist rule in Italy began in 1922 when he led the March on Rome, which forced King
Victor Emmanuel III to name him prime minister.
Comparably, in Germany, the 1920s saw the rise of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German
Workers' Party, also known as the Nazi Party. The Treaty of Versailles' economic hardships and
humiliations stoked public discontent and served as a breeding ground for Hitler's nationalist and
anti-Semitic rhetoric. Hitler assumed office as Germany's chancellor in 1933 and quickly
consolidated his position of authority by passing the Enabling Act, which effectively brought about
the fall of the democratic Weimar Republic and laid the groundwork for the Third Reich.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), a nationalist and authoritarian regime emerged in Spain
under Francisco Franco. After defeating the Republicans, Franco's Nationalist forces established
themselves as the government of Spain until he died in 1975.
1 Paxton, R. O. (2004). The Anatomy of Fascism. Vintage.
1
, Common traits of fascist regimes included the denial of liberal democracy, the elevation of the state,
and the conviction that a specific race or nation is superior. Fascist rule was characterised by
centralised authority, frequently under the direction of an appealing figurehead. Economic policies
emphasised national cohesion and a shared goal by combining aspects of corporatism and state
intervention.2
Fascist influence began to spread outside of Germany and Italy in the 1930s. To pursue imperialism
in Asia, Japan established an authoritarian government, and several far-right movements, albeit with
differing degrees of success, arose in other European nations.
The emergence of fascism during the early 1900s was a multifaceted reaction to the socio-political
issues of that era. It took advantage of the complaints of people living through political unrest and
economic hardships and offered oversimplified fixes that eventually caused democratic institutions
to crumble and had disastrous worldwide effects. Gaining an understanding of this historical
background is essential to appreciating fascism's lasting influence on contemporary political
discourse.
2 Griffin, R. (1991). The Nature of Fascism. St. Martin's Press.
2
RELEVANCE
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Political ideologies such as fascism are defined by a strong emphasis on racial or national purity,
extreme nationalism, dictatorial power, and repression of dissent. As a reaction to the political and
economic upheavals that followed World War I, it evolved in the early 20th century. Fascist
governments aimed to unify society under a single, centralised government and were characterised
by their authoritarian leadership. Because of the ideology's emphasis on state power, the word
"fascism" itself comes from the Latin word "fasces," which refers to a bundle of rods that
represented authority in ancient Rome.1
Following World War I, Europe was dealing with political disillusionment, social unrest, and
economic instability, which contributed to the rise of fascism. 1921 saw the founding of the
National Fascist Party in Italy by former socialist Benito Mussolini. Capitalising on the discontent
among the populace over the post-war circumstances, Mussolini pledged stability and a revitalised
country. Fascist rule in Italy began in 1922 when he led the March on Rome, which forced King
Victor Emmanuel III to name him prime minister.
Comparably, in Germany, the 1920s saw the rise of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German
Workers' Party, also known as the Nazi Party. The Treaty of Versailles' economic hardships and
humiliations stoked public discontent and served as a breeding ground for Hitler's nationalist and
anti-Semitic rhetoric. Hitler assumed office as Germany's chancellor in 1933 and quickly
consolidated his position of authority by passing the Enabling Act, which effectively brought about
the fall of the democratic Weimar Republic and laid the groundwork for the Third Reich.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), a nationalist and authoritarian regime emerged in Spain
under Francisco Franco. After defeating the Republicans, Franco's Nationalist forces established
themselves as the government of Spain until he died in 1975.
1 Paxton, R. O. (2004). The Anatomy of Fascism. Vintage.
1
, Common traits of fascist regimes included the denial of liberal democracy, the elevation of the state,
and the conviction that a specific race or nation is superior. Fascist rule was characterised by
centralised authority, frequently under the direction of an appealing figurehead. Economic policies
emphasised national cohesion and a shared goal by combining aspects of corporatism and state
intervention.2
Fascist influence began to spread outside of Germany and Italy in the 1930s. To pursue imperialism
in Asia, Japan established an authoritarian government, and several far-right movements, albeit with
differing degrees of success, arose in other European nations.
The emergence of fascism during the early 1900s was a multifaceted reaction to the socio-political
issues of that era. It took advantage of the complaints of people living through political unrest and
economic hardships and offered oversimplified fixes that eventually caused democratic institutions
to crumble and had disastrous worldwide effects. Gaining an understanding of this historical
background is essential to appreciating fascism's lasting influence on contemporary political
discourse.
2 Griffin, R. (1991). The Nature of Fascism. St. Martin's Press.
2
