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[–]hfxB0oyAPirate Party 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

But does the far right = capitalism? I've usually seen it as communism vs fascism.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

Fascism is (usually) economically left-wing, so in this case: it ain't on the far-right, that would be Libertarianism. If we were to only include social issues: it would be on the far-right. If we included both: It'd be center-right — along with Libertarianism, which is why I don't like mixing social and economic issues into one axis.

[–]hfxB0oyAPirate Party 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Interesting. Though some have argued that Mussolini's state was corporatist. However, in the case of the nazis, one thing I read described the government ending up 'being what one historian described as “polycratic chaos”.'

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Though some have argued that Mussolini's state was corporatist.

Corporatism is way different from Capitalism — and actually lies in the center of the economic spectrum, although some variants are more left- or right-wing than others.

Corporatism is a political ideology which advocates the organization of society by corporate groups, such as agricultural, labour, military, scientific, or guild associations, on the basis of their common interests.

I'm a Corporatist myself (which is why I made s/Corporatism), specifically: a Corporate Guild Syndicalist. Mussolini was also a Corporatist, but he was a Fascist Corporatist, which is more left-wing due to state interference.

However, in the case of the nazis, one thing I read described the government ending up 'being what one historian described as “polycratic chaos”.'

The original Nazis — the Strasser brothers — where definitely Socialist, but Hitler was willing to sacrifice the ideological tenants of National Socialism in order to gain and retain power. He was still left-wing, however, as his regime utilized extensive economic planning, and had a policy of seizing private property from minorities.

The German Labor Front was corporatist in theory, but turned out to be nothing more than a means for Hitler to retain power by crushing unions; the GLF was biased towards employers, and actually resulted in a decrease in standards of living.

[–]hfxB0oyAPirate Party 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I had not heard of the Strasser brothers before. Thanks for the history lesson! Not at all surprising that they ended up being eaten by the movement they helped start. This seems to be a common thread of extremest philosophies.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

You're welcome! If you're interested in that sort of thing: you might want to look into Stalin's purge against the Trotskyists, which mirrored the night of the long knives.

Political extremists have a predisposition to purge from their own ranks anyone who threatens their authority, for their goal is not to facilitate meaningful change, but rather to seize and maintain power at all costs.

That's a blessing, however, as it's made their movements inherently weak; Stalin crippled the Soviet military in his paranoid bloodbath. Democracies last longer than dictatorships for a reason: they're much more stable — especially with systems that require coalitions, such as proportional representation, and systems designed to elect moderates, such as favorability voting.

[–]hfxB0oyAPirate Party 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Let's hope we're able to move through this current sociopolitical polarization and get back to a point where we can publicly say we like our neighbours without putting an asterisk next to the statement lest some nut case out there tries to get us fired from our jobs.

Also, interesting you should mention Trotsky. After reading about the Strassers, it turns out that both Otto Strasser and Trotsky spent time in Nova Scotia, the Canadian province I live in. Strasser living free in a tiny rural community for ten years (bizarre!) and Trotsky incarcerated briefly in an internment camp for POWs.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I hope so as well, but unfortunately: it seems like civil conflict is inevitable. Both sides are dead-set on complete domination and the total destruction of any and all opposition... I just hope we can form an iron front in time.

After reading about the Strassers, it turns out that both Otto Strasser and Trotsky spent time in Nova Scotia, the Canadian province I live in.

Huh, interesting.