Examples of fascist movements that didn't make it
February 18, 2022 10:07 PM Subscribe
Please give me examples of fascist movements that might have made it but did not succeed, preferably with pointers or further reading as to why.
I am trying to get an understanding of what made difficult terrain for such movements, what steps other people took that had an impact. I would find this cheering and edifying.
I am trying to get an understanding of what made difficult terrain for such movements, what steps other people took that had an impact. I would find this cheering and edifying.
The Blackshirts might be one of the better-known examples.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 10:42 PM on February 18, 2022
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 10:42 PM on February 18, 2022
The British Union of Fascists could have. One of the things that made it hard for them was getting their asses kicked, along with the police force who supported them.
In very broad terms, it was also "wrong place at the wrong time" once the Second World War happened and certain things lined up that made their position untenable, to put it mildly.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:43 PM on February 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
In very broad terms, it was also "wrong place at the wrong time" once the Second World War happened and certain things lined up that made their position untenable, to put it mildly.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:43 PM on February 18, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Blueshirts were led by General Eoin O'Duffy whose rhetoric muddied the political waters in 1930s Ireland. He never got to send mercenaries to help Mussolini's adventures in Abyssinia but did lead an Irish Brigade to fight for Franco in Spain. Fine Gael, the righter of the two largest centerist parties in the country today, are heckled as "Blueshirts" because FG coalesced from O'Duffy's bund and a mixum of other anti-treaty groups.
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:19 AM on February 19, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:19 AM on February 19, 2022 [6 favorites]
The various Danish nazi parties never really gained a following, though during WWII thousands of Danes volunteered on the Eastern Front.
I think the consensus among historians is that a political agreement across the left/right divide in 1933*, which was the foundational stone of the Danish welfare state, essentially removed the conditions for both left and right extremism.
At the same time, anti-racist laws protecting Danish Jews were created and strongly enforced.
During the early 1930s, young Danish Conservatives admired the nazis in Germany, and were marching around in quasi-Nazi uniforms and behaving obnoxiously, but the parties behind the Kanslergade Agreement also forbade uniforms in civilian organisations, including armbands and dresscodes that approximated uniforms (so proud boys would have been illegal). Even boyscouts over 14 years of age were prohibited from wearing uniforms. To this day, there is a fundamental dislike of uniforms in Danish society.
So it is a combination of a cross-the-aisle political coalition to create positive conditions that make fascism less attractive, and laws and strong enforcement of laws to prevent fascist expression.
*the fundamental values behind the Kanslergade Agreement were upheld in Danish politics until 2001, when the obnoxious Anders Fogh Rasmussen became PM, riding on the wave of anti-islamic sentiments after 9/11. Even though Fogh Rasmussen is now busy doing nefarious things abroad, he broke the Humpty Dumpty that was Danish politics, and it hasn't come together again. Never think "it can't happen here"
posted by mumimor at 3:00 AM on February 19, 2022 [19 favorites]
I think the consensus among historians is that a political agreement across the left/right divide in 1933*, which was the foundational stone of the Danish welfare state, essentially removed the conditions for both left and right extremism.
At the same time, anti-racist laws protecting Danish Jews were created and strongly enforced.
During the early 1930s, young Danish Conservatives admired the nazis in Germany, and were marching around in quasi-Nazi uniforms and behaving obnoxiously, but the parties behind the Kanslergade Agreement also forbade uniforms in civilian organisations, including armbands and dresscodes that approximated uniforms (so proud boys would have been illegal). Even boyscouts over 14 years of age were prohibited from wearing uniforms. To this day, there is a fundamental dislike of uniforms in Danish society.
So it is a combination of a cross-the-aisle political coalition to create positive conditions that make fascism less attractive, and laws and strong enforcement of laws to prevent fascist expression.
*the fundamental values behind the Kanslergade Agreement were upheld in Danish politics until 2001, when the obnoxious Anders Fogh Rasmussen became PM, riding on the wave of anti-islamic sentiments after 9/11. Even though Fogh Rasmussen is now busy doing nefarious things abroad, he broke the Humpty Dumpty that was Danish politics, and it hasn't come together again. Never think "it can't happen here"
posted by mumimor at 3:00 AM on February 19, 2022 [19 favorites]
I don't know if you'd call it a movement, but author Yukio Mishima died after attempting something in that political vein.
posted by Selena777 at 5:48 PM on February 19, 2022
posted by Selena777 at 5:48 PM on February 19, 2022
If you want start down the rabbit hole, wikipedia has separate lists for fascism in Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Africa.
Golden Dawn is worth a look. Given current events in Ukraine, there should be more interest in Svoboda.
posted by BWA at 6:25 AM on February 20, 2022
Golden Dawn is worth a look. Given current events in Ukraine, there should be more interest in Svoboda.
posted by BWA at 6:25 AM on February 20, 2022
There was a pretty vigorous fascist movement in America (including its members defending the Nazis when they were taking over Europe). American involvement in World War II halted it.
But I'm guessing "turn public opinion against fascism by allowing them to start a world war and commit genocide" is . . . not the solution any of us are looking for.
posted by Anonymous at 10:48 AM on February 20, 2022
But I'm guessing "turn public opinion against fascism by allowing them to start a world war and commit genocide" is . . . not the solution any of us are looking for.
posted by Anonymous at 10:48 AM on February 20, 2022
There might be several examples of groups in Europe in the 30s that never took power on their own, but the group or members of the group supported Nazi occupations in their countries after the war started. Example: La Cagoule/Action Française never took power outright, but saw much of its membership become collaborators after 1940.
posted by gimonca at 12:42 PM on February 20, 2022
posted by gimonca at 12:42 PM on February 20, 2022
The most infamous example of the that is the fascist National Front in Norway. Founded by Vidkun Quisling in 1933, it failed to get any seats in the parliament. The Nazis made Quisling the prime minister of their puppet government during their occupation. After the war Quisling was convicted of murder and treason and executed. Small-q quisling became a synonym for traitor or collaborator.
posted by JonJacky at 10:33 AM on February 21, 2022
posted by JonJacky at 10:33 AM on February 21, 2022
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posted by zompist at 10:31 PM on February 18, 2022 [6 favorites]