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In what sense can fascism be viewed as democratic

Traditional forms of democracy - representative or direct - are, on principle, opposed by the generic fascist regime. The word 'democracy' comes from the Greek and means literally rule by the people (the demos). If one is to interpret this within the liberal school of thought then fascism cannot be understood as democratic. However, there are some grounds to support the view that it is a form of democracy, and this is typically expounded by fascists in response to criticisms of their regimes as undemocratic.

Talmon called the typical fascist regime "totalitarian democracy". This statement as first seems paradoxical - but due to the interpretation of the Rousseauean 'great legislator' it may be acceptable. Rousseau's social contract expounded the idea that there is a single and indivisible public interest: the general will. This 'wil'l can be pulled away from the collective and individual wills of the people by the legislator. Hitler expounded the idea of 'fuhereprinzip' (leader principle) the leader is seen to be the source of all authority and holds a monopoly of ideological wisdom. The ideas of Rousseau blended with the fascist conception of the masses as weak and ignorant means that the leader is democratic in that he is ruling 'for the people'. The liberal democratic system is bound to fail. The idea that he leader can interpret the 'will' of the people correctly is seen in the Italian slogans: "Mussolini is always right". Historically, this distaste for liberal democracy can be explained with reference to the weak collations of italy and the inter-war Germany. Wherein liberal politicians looked weak and slave-like and fascists unique and emotional - inspiring the people and collectivizing them under their wills. Arguably this is a non-traditional interpretation of democracy.

The fascist dislike of the representative liberal democracy is also enforced by their social Darwinian distaste for weakness. Bill Clinton called the people: "the boss" - the role of government is thus to listen to the different groups and consider their wants and needs. The leader is also expected to respect the rights of individuals within society. The fascist rejects this. The masses require inspiration hence the large number of rallies and plebiscites in Nazi Germany.

However, in the fascist system the leader can go against these "wants and needs of the masses" if they don't coincide with what Hubert called as the "objective destiny of the people" again this harks back to Rousseau and the idea that 'true democracy' is when society is direct by its will. But, how can the leader be sure he is really acting on the true will of the people and thus, make claims to democracy?

Firstly, it is due to the way in which the leader emerges out of the Darwinian struggle. The outcome defines that he leader has superior will and judgement. The Nazi contortion of Nietzche would state that he is the Ubenmench. The strong individual can rise about the herd like instincts of the multitude - their will-to-power setting them free from conventional morality. The second reason is that this "historic destiny" of the nation and the "will of the people" are the same thing. If the leader understands the destiny of the people he also understands their will. And in this light the fascist can argue, that true democracy is the fusion of absolutism and popular sovereignty to form ‘totalitarian democracy’ Thus fascist regimes attempt to collective people behind the leader.

Critics of this nationalist interpretation of democracy point that fascists were guilty of trading half-truths and quasi-scientific theory of figures such as chamberlain, Gentile, or Rosenberg. In other words no fascist regime is truly democratic because the ‘national aspirations’ and ‘collective will of the people’ are nothing more than the machinations of the leader.

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This essay is aimed at people studying for A Level Politics, but will be suitable for other people too.

Originally submitted by Dr Pip on TSR Forums.