Question: Justin Jacob

Is our own society faced with the phenomenon that is fertile soil for the rise of Fascism anywhere: the insignificance and powerlessness of the individual? In the rise to Fascism is there a human problem which needs to be understood?
Is there a return to middle ages, knowledge, spite or by the cunning schemes of deceitful kings and priests are making him fascistic?

Answer: Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST

The question, which requires a deeper analysis is very relevant in the present context of Indian socio-political scenario. Fascism is a very complex ideology. George Orwell says that it is very difficult to define fascism, for much of the trouble that fascist regimes differ widely in many ways. For some people, it is a type or set of political actions, or a political philosophy or mass movement. Robert Paxton, who is widely considered the father of fascism studies, defines it as “a form of political practice distinctive to the 20th century that arouses popular enthusiasm by sophisticated propaganda techniques for an anti-liberal, anti-socialist, violently exclusionary, expansionist, nationalist agenda.” It is seen as a ‘rhetoric, a way of running for power, a technique to gain it.’ According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, Fascism is “a way of classifying a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which individuals are not allowed to disagree with the government.”

In general, fascism can be seen as an authoritarian movement that promotes extreme nationalism. Though it is articulated differently in different places, some common features, such as extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of the elites are traced out as its major characteristics. In order to promote the ideology of nationalism, it speaks of some basic allegiances, national grandeur or a privileged group of people based on religion, cast or race. The usual slogan would be to make a stronger, more powerful and successful nation. In order to promote its ideology, it will bring a lot of nostalgic stories about the past heritage of the country or people, picture themselves as self-assumed victims or scapegoats and demonize other groups by creating fake stories. History and facts will be reformulated according the agenda of fascist autocratic ruler. In the process of fascist regime, more than reason, emotions or feeling get prioritised and an individual lose the capacity to think critically and logically and to find out the authenticity of the propaganda.

THE CATALYST OF FASCISM
With the experience of the 20th century’s fascist movements, sociologists made many analyses on its root. It is true that some particular existing socio-political phenomenon of the nation function as a catalyst to make regular people to side with the fascist. The great depression of economy after the First World War was the immediate catalyst for the infamous Italian and German fascist movements in 1930’s. Along with it they triggered the identity and chauvinism of the people. Ineffective administrative systems, suffering of people, growth of corruption, unemployment, excessive poverty, national humiliations and other similar situations may function as the catalyst for the growth of fascism. Before the regime of Mussolini, Italy had a series of weak, revolving door-governments. Germany was also failed to bring an effective parliamentary system after the First World War.

In his analysis Robert Paxton points out seven major ‘feelings’ as the “mobilising passions” for fascist regimes. First of all, it is the ‘primacy of the group.’ In such situations they promote and propagate that the ideals of the group are much more important than the rights of an individual. It is very easy to trivialise the responsibility and freedom of the individual in the frame of nationalism or for the ideology of the patriotic group. Secondly, there would be a belief that one’s group is a victim. In the process of making a group as the victim, there will be many nostalgic stories explaining how they were victimised in the past, either by the previous regime or by some group of people. The aim of this victimisation is to make them feel that they have lost something, and the thing they have lost is taken by a specific enemy, mostly some minority-out group. The Nazi regime made many fake stories against the Jews through propaganda which triggered the ego of German nationalism. By different stories the dominant group feel angry and resentful on the loss of their status, power or heritage which may prompt them to blindly adapt the mythical past and to create enmity with the ‘opponents.’

The third character is the belief that individualism and liberalism enable dangerous decadence and have a negative effect on the group. Therefore, individual freedom will be minimised and people will be placed under the surveillance of the government. Fourth, they develop a strong sense of community or brotherhood. Rather than promoting the equality of all citizens in the country, the brotherhood focuses on the ‘unity and purity’ of the closed community. While they are very strong in the internal structure, they would exclude all others, and will clean them even with force or violence. Fifth, ‘an enhanced sense of identity and belonging.’ The self-esteem of the individual is tied up in the grandeur of the group. Sixth one is the idea of natural superiority of the group. In Hitler’s case, it was the Aryan race. Finally, the development of a leader cult, with the idea that a particular leader will save the country from the present havoc and will lead the nation to a glorious future.

The economic structure of the fascist regime is also a matter of consideration. Hitler was backed by the wealth of the elite group in the country and the big business groups or cooperates are benefited with government contracts, concessions etc during the Nazi government. Though the poor were benefited at the beginning of Mussolini’s regime, they were displaced at a later period. In short, the big business class and multi-national cooperates will support them for they could maintain their property and increase their wealth with the help of a fascist government. Though the stating of many fascist governments were with certain radical ideas or popular projects that may appease the public in general, once they are strong in power the policies that would benefit the rich will be executed. Moreover, most of the fascist states, religion would be playing a major role with which they would keep the majority together and the dissent, whether persons, media or opposite parties would be silenced with whatever possible means.

IS OUR PRESENT SOCIETY FERTILE FOR FASCISM?
Harold Pinter, started his famous Nobel lecture in 2005 with the following words. “There are no hard distinctions between what is real and what is unreal, nor between what is true and what is false. A thing is not necessarily either true or false; it can be both true and false.” According to him, in drama truth is elusive. One never finds it. But a search for it is compulsive. Most often one may stumble upon the truth in the darkness, colliding with it and the real truth may not be found out. However, in real life the situation should be different. As an artist he can play with truth, ignoring, teasing or blinding it. But as a citizen he should ask ‘what is true and what is false.’ That is the most fundamental responsibility of an individual in a society. However, in the contemporary society, especially in India, we fail to ask many crucial questions concerning truth, justice, democracy, individual freedom, patriotism and authentic development. Sometimes, people become blind because of the various influences such as religion, politics, and culture, cast and so on. For the fertile of democracy and freedom, the entire environment should be fearless. People, especially the policy makers should be authentic and trustworthy.

As politics play a very decisive role in our country, the words of Pinter become relevant to us too. “Political language, as used by politicians, does not venture into any of this territory since the majority of politicians …are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power, it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed.” People get many false information and propaganda through media that favours a system. In order to show how an individual become ignorant, Printer points out the incident of the invasion of Iraq by US in 2001. It was told and people were assured that Iraq had relationship with Al Quaeda and it had massive destructive weapons. But it was not true!

When we look on the contemporary scenario of our country, we can also traits out many incidents that would correlate with those past dark days. Do we have any fact checking method to know the authenticity of various news on the military invasion, terrorist attack or any other activities in the banner of security and national integrity? In a country which ignores the most fundamental problems of its citizens and go after the political gymnastics of religious fanaticism and mythical stories, it is very easy to exploit the sentimental feelings of the people. Truth is hard, messy and complex and one has to open him/herself to see the reality in and around him/her. But a mythical story is always clear and compelling and entertaining and it is very hard to undercut it with facts and figures. People, while seeking their own self-pleasure or temporal benefit, will be satisfied with such mythical, imaginable, illogical stories.

Democracy strives in a society where truth and justice prevail. The great principles of democracy such as liberty, equality and fraternity are built upon the two pillars of truth and justice. In order to act freely one should have the accesses to the truth. One will know what s/he is doing, only if s/he has access to the truth. Once it is denied, democracy is in danger and the autocrat can creep into the very private life of people even with certain attractive promises and gifts. The autocracy can find a lot of reasons to prevent one in the path of truth seeking, for revealing truth will be always danger in such a country. Hanna Ardent has already pointed out the danger of truth seekers in a fascist regime. According to her, the fascists are never content to merely lie, rather they would transform lie into new reality and will persuade people to believe the unreality they have created – an illusion for their favour. They will be supported by the ‘media’ and other powerful organisations of the democracy too. Slowly the democratic institutions will become the slaves of the autocrat and the public will be disassociated from reality. So, it is the responsibility of each individual to keep the uprightness and dignity of his/her freedom of conscience and act diligently because in the past too people could not recognise that they are moving towards fascism. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” The words of Martin Niemöller is a gentle reminder; “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”