Student Question
How is fascism a product of Western civilization?
Quick answer:
Fascism is a product of Western civilization, primarily emerging from nationalism and as a reaction to Enlightenment ideals. Nationalism, which gained prominence during the French Revolution, emphasized unity and loyalty to one's country, laying the groundwork for fascist ideologies. Additionally, fascism countered the rationality and scientific focus of the Enlightenment with emotional nationalism and romanticism. While fascism arose in certain Western contexts, such as Germany, it is not an inevitable outcome for all Western nations.
Fascism can be seen as a product of Western civilization in many ways. Let us look at two of the most important of these.
First, fascism is an outgrowth of nationalism. Nationalism really arose with the French Revolution. Beginning then, leaders started to use the idea of national solidarity as a way to motivate their people. They no longer appealed to loyalty to a ruler but rather to loyalty to one's country. This became even more important as war became a mass endeavor requiring large armies and the consent, in some way, of the people. Fascism grew out of this idea of national solidarity.
Second, fascism is a reaction to things like the growth of democracy and the spread of Enlightenment thinking. These were ideologies that encouraged people to be rational and to seek scientific truths. A backlash to this arose that emphasized emotions and romanticism. Fascism grew out of...
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this because it emphasizes an emotional attachment to one's nation and to one's leader. This was a reaction against the more sterile and emotionless ideas of the Enlightenment.
How can fascism be seen as a product of Western civilization?
In one way, it is obvious that fascism was a product of one western nation
at one time. The more important question is whether all western nations
inevitably descend into fascism, and again, it is equally obvious that such has
not been the case. Thus it is important to refine your question to consider
what factors make some but not other nations descend into fascism.
In the case of Germany, one can look at two areas. The first is the culture of
Arayanism. This movement began as an attempt at nation-building (the
unification of the German states into a single nation was a late -- 19th
century -- phenomenon); thus an active ideology of nationalism was a factor.
Second, Germany had been very harshly treated at the end of WW I, and was
enduring substantial economic hardship, making many Germans more prone to
listening to demagogues like Hitler than they might have been otherwise. Thus
one can say that fascism can be, but is not necessarily, a product of 2 aspects
of certain western cultures.