"In 'Fascism: A Very Short Introduction' Kevin Passmore describes how the Italian Fascists initially won the 'support of many conservative small peasants and landless labourers, who agreed that the authorities were not protecting them from the left. Fascist squads (squadristi) began a violent campaign of intimidation against Catholics and especially Socialists, in which many hundreds were killed.' "

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 6/6

#socialism #facism #conservatism #capitalism

"In 'Fascism: A Very Short Introduction' Kevin Passmore describes how the Italian Fascists initially won the 'support of many conservative small peasants and landless labourers, who agreed that the authorities were not protecting them from the left. Fascist squads (squadristi) began a violent campaign of intimidation against Catholics and especially Socialists, in which many hundreds were killed.' "

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 6/6

#socialism #facism #conservatism #capitalism

"For many people the left’s offer of equality will never be as seductive as the right’s offer of being a superior, especially when coupled with the resentment at being a victim dispossessed of aristocratic status by the unworthy.

[...]

The fascists were such effective anti-socialists and anti-leftists that their reputation on the right remained somewhat intact even after the Second World War."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 6/6

#socialism #facism

"Socialists differ from (at least classical) liberals in largely accepting the inevitability of social conflict; namely class conflict. [...] The workers of the world will unite because all of them, regardless of race or creed, are exploited by #capitalism.

[...]

This precludes us from prioritizing our individual or national desires to the point we ignore the needs of others or even prey upon them. Fascists completely reject this."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 5/6

#socialism #facism

"Socialists differ from (at least classical) liberals in largely accepting the inevitability of social conflict; namely class conflict. [...] The workers of the world will unite because all of them, regardless of race or creed, are exploited by #capitalism.

[...]

This precludes us from prioritizing our individual or national desires to the point we ignore the needs of others or even prey upon them. Fascists completely reject this."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 5/6

#socialism #facism

"This is because fascists deny that economic precarity is the basic social problem, and also that using reason to design a well-functioning economic system that secures the good things of life for all is a worthy aspiration. Mussolini (or rather Gentile speaking through Mussolini) insisted that the fascist 'believes now and always in sanctity and heroism, that is to say in acts in which no economic motive — remote or immediate — is at work.' "

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 4/6

#socialism #facism

"This is because fascists deny that economic precarity is the basic social problem, and also that using reason to design a well-functioning economic system that secures the good things of life for all is a worthy aspiration. Mussolini (or rather Gentile speaking through Mussolini) insisted that the fascist 'believes now and always in sanctity and heroism, that is to say in acts in which no economic motive — remote or immediate — is at work.' "

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 4/6

#socialism #facism

"But right-wing doctrines are not defined purely by reactionary instincts. They are defined by definite assertions and beliefs of their own—most importantly, the conviction that people (and peoples) are fundamentally unequal, and the best society is one that reflects natural or ordained inequalities. To obey a real superior is a great social virtue, to paraphrase the conservative James Fitzjames Stephen."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 3/6

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

"But right-wing doctrines are not defined purely by reactionary instincts. They are defined by definite assertions and beliefs of their own—most importantly, the conviction that people (and peoples) are fundamentally unequal, and the best society is one that reflects natural or ordained inequalities. To obey a real superior is a great social virtue, to paraphrase the conservative James Fitzjames Stephen."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 3/6

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

"... vision of the future, everyone was to know their place, and the working classes especially were to be kept where they belonged, out of the political-decision making process altogether.

[...]

This went so far that the more generically conservative party, the German National People’s party, formed a coalition with the NSDAP and supported their dictatorial ambitions."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 2/4

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

"... vision of the future, everyone was to know their place, and the working classes especially were to be kept where they belonged, out of the political-decision making process altogether.

[...]

This went so far that the more generically conservative party, the German National People’s party, formed a coalition with the NSDAP and supported their dictatorial ambitions."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 2/4

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

"Why Fascists Always Come for the Socialists First

[...]

[The] conservatives who levered Hitler into power shared a good deal of [his] vision. They really did look back with nostalgia to the past, and yearn for the restoration of the Hohenzolleren monarchy and the Bismarkian Reich. But these were to be restored in a form purged of what they saw as unwise concessions that had been made to democracy. In their ..."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 1/4

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

"Why Fascists Always Come for the Socialists First

[...]

[The] conservatives who levered Hitler into power shared a good deal of [his] vision. They really did look back with nostalgia to the past, and yearn for the restoration of the Hohenzolleren monarchy and the Bismarkian Reich. But these were to be restored in a form purged of what they saw as unwise concessions that had been made to democracy. In their ..."

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fascists-always-come-for-the-socialists-first

🧵 1/4

#socialism #conservatism #capitalism #facism

Also, I've been reminded yet again that a lot of ostensibly leftist/progressive people will become pearl clutching puritans when it comes to any suggestive/adult thing they personally find icky/weird. This includes making vague, baseless claims about said material causing "societal harm."

Again, do these people not realize they sound identical the right wing freaks that demanded violent video games, song lyrics, and rap/metal music be banned? Do they think the stuff they like will be spared if they sacrifice the stuff they don't like on the fascism alter?

News Flash: Fascists go after the adult/niche fetish stuff first in order to get their feet in the door. They won't stop at just the "weird stuff." They will go after the stuff you like so it's best to stop them well before they get to that point.

#FreeSpeech #Censorship #DigitalRights #Internet #SocialMedia #Facism #US #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #Canada #Australia #UK #UnitedKingdom

Also, I've been reminded yet again that a lot of ostensibly leftist/progressive people will become pearl clutching puritans when it comes to any suggestive/adult thing they personally find icky/weird. This includes making vague, baseless claims about said material causing "societal harm."

Again, do these people not realize they sound identical the right wing freaks that demanded violent video games, song lyrics, and rap/metal music be banned? Do they think the stuff they like will be spared if they sacrifice the stuff they don't like on the fascism alter?

News Flash: Fascists go after the adult/niche fetish stuff first in order to get their feet in the door. They won't stop at just the "weird stuff." They will go after the stuff you like so it's best to stop them well before they get to that point.

#FreeSpeech #Censorship #DigitalRights #Internet #SocialMedia #Facism #US #UnitedStates #EU #EuropeanUnion #Canada #Australia #UK #UnitedKingdom