Other Ideological Other Ideological TraditionsTraditions

Unit 5: Anarchism, Fascism, Unit 5: Anarchism, Fascism, Feminism, NationalismFeminism, Nationalism

AnarchismAnarchism Means ‘without rule’Means ‘without rule’ All political authority – especially in the All political authority – especially in the

form of the state – is evilform of the state – is evil The state epitomises sovereign, The state epitomises sovereign,

compulsory and coercive authoritycompulsory and coercive authority It offends the principles of It offends the principles of freedomfreedom and and

equalityequality Core value – unrestricted personal Core value – unrestricted personal

autonomyautonomy

AnarchismAnarchism The state and its institutions are The state and its institutions are

corrupt and corruptingcorrupt and corrupting The state is thus unnecessary – The state is thus unnecessary –

government is the cause not the government is the cause not the solution of problemssolution of problems

Anarchists elevate ‘natural’ order Anarchists elevate ‘natural’ order and social harmony – optimistic view and social harmony – optimistic view of human natureof human nature

AnarchismAnarchismA stateless society is…A stateless society is… One in which free individuals manage One in which free individuals manage

their own affairs through voluntary their own affairs through voluntary agreement and co-operation.agreement and co-operation.

There are two rival anarchist There are two rival anarchist traditions developing this viewtraditions developing this view

1.1. Socialist, communitarianSocialist, communitarian2.2. Liberal, individualistLiberal, individualist

AnarchismAnarchismThe Socialist view:The Socialist view: Derives from collectivist anarchist Derives from collectivist anarchist

traditiontradition Kropotkin – ‘mutual aid’ – people’s Kropotkin – ‘mutual aid’ – people’s

natural relationships are sympathetic natural relationships are sympathetic onesones

Importance of social equality and Importance of social equality and common ownership – Proudhon, common ownership – Proudhon, ‘property is theft’.‘property is theft’.

AnarchismAnarchismThe Individualist view:The Individualist view: Idea of sovereign individualIdea of sovereign individual Individual actions – conscience/pursuit Individual actions – conscience/pursuit

of self-interest – should not be of self-interest – should not be constrained by any collective body or constrained by any collective body or public authoritypublic authority

Overlaps with libertarianismOverlaps with libertarianism Anarcho-capitalism – strong belief in the Anarcho-capitalism – strong belief in the

market, which is self-regulatingmarket, which is self-regulating

FascismFascism Core theme – idea of organically unified Core theme – idea of organically unified

national community – ‘strength through national community – ‘strength through unity’.unity’.

The individual is nothingThe individual is nothing Individual identity absorbed into the Individual identity absorbed into the

communitycommunity The fascist hero dedicates his life to the The fascist hero dedicates his life to the

glory of his nation or raceglory of his nation or race Constitutes a revolt against ideals of French Constitutes a revolt against ideals of French

Revolution (‘1789 is dead’)Revolution (‘1789 is dead’)

FascismFascismRejects following values:Rejects following values: RationalismRationalism ProgressProgress FreedomFreedom EqualityEquality

FascismFascismElevates following values:Elevates following values: StruggleStruggle LeadershipLeadership PowerPower HeroismHeroism WarWar

FascismFascism It often seems to be defined by what It often seems to be defined by what

it is opposed to – an ‘anti’ ideologyit is opposed to – an ‘anti’ ideologyContradictory – Contradictory – Freedom means submissionFreedom means submission Democracy means dictatorshipDemocracy means dictatorship Progress means struggleProgress means struggle

FascismFascismThere is a problem in identifying core There is a problem in identifying core

principles in fascism.principles in fascism.Italian Fascism and German Nazism Italian Fascism and German Nazism

have been variously treated as two have been variously treated as two common manifestations of fascism, common manifestations of fascism, but with obvious variables, or as two but with obvious variables, or as two distinct ideological traditions.distinct ideological traditions.

Fascism - MussoliniFascism - Mussolini Extreme form of statismExtreme form of statism Totalitarian stateTotalitarian state ‘‘Everything for the state; nothing Everything for the state; nothing

against the state; nothing outside against the state; nothing outside the state’the state’ – Gentile – Gentile

Nationalist – militaristic and Nationalist – militaristic and expansionistexpansionist

Fascism - NazismFascism - Nazism Racialist – Aryanism and anti-semitismRacialist – Aryanism and anti-semitism Nationalist – militaristic and Nationalist – militaristic and

expansionistexpansionist Socialist – collective identity and social Socialist – collective identity and social

unity pursued through project of unity pursued through project of national rebirthnational rebirth

Struggle between states – social Struggle between states – social darwinisticdarwinistic

Fascism and anti-Fascism and anti-rationalismrationalism

Human beings are motivated by powerful Human beings are motivated by powerful drives and urges, not by rational calculationdrives and urges, not by rational calculation

Reasoned analysis cannot make sense of the Reasoned analysis cannot make sense of the worldworld

Fascism appeals to the emotions and Fascism appeals to the emotions and instincts of the masses (parades, symbols)instincts of the masses (parades, symbols)

Emphasis on action over reflection or Emphasis on action over reflection or analysisanalysis

Stress upon physical force – personal and Stress upon physical force – personal and nationalnational

Fascism and democracyFascism and democracy Democracy has many interpretationsDemocracy has many interpretations Fascists do not believe in liberal Fascists do not believe in liberal

democracydemocracy Belief in totalitarian democracy – the Belief in totalitarian democracy – the

leader has a monopoly of ideological leader has a monopoly of ideological wisdom, and thus his rule is wisdom, and thus his rule is government for the people.government for the people.

Operates through charismatic Operates through charismatic authorityauthority

FeminismFeminism A political movement that seeks to A political movement that seeks to

advance the social and political role of advance the social and political role of womenwomen

Unequal treatment of women should be Unequal treatment of women should be overturnedoverturned

Discussion of ‘liberation’ and ‘equality’Discussion of ‘liberation’ and ‘equality’ ‘‘Equality’ – for some feminists – simply Equality’ – for some feminists – simply

means being like menmeans being like men ‘‘Liberation’ means the freedom to act as Liberation’ means the freedom to act as

individuals, without suppression by menindividuals, without suppression by men

FeminismFeminismPatriarchy – Patriarchy – Refers to the totality of women’s Refers to the totality of women’s

oppressionoppression Highlights political importance of genderHighlights political importance of gender Refers to socially imposed (as opposed to Refers to socially imposed (as opposed to

biological) differences between men and biological) differences between men and womenwomen

Gender is thus a political construct, Gender is thus a political construct, based upon stereotyped understandingsbased upon stereotyped understandings

FeminismFeminismCharacterised by diverse theories:Characterised by diverse theories: Liberal Feminism – commitment to Liberal Feminism – commitment to

individualism – desire for equal rights;individualism – desire for equal rights; Socialist Feminism – links female Socialist Feminism – links female

subordination to capitalist modes of subordination to capitalist modes of production – economic significance of production – economic significance of women confined to domestic life;women confined to domestic life;

Radical Feminism – ‘personal is political’ – Radical Feminism – ‘personal is political’ – calls for radical social restructuring – has calls for radical social restructuring – has itself splintered into diverse traditions, itself splintered into diverse traditions, leading to accusations that it lacks leading to accusations that it lacks coherence and unity.coherence and unity.

Feminism – past Feminism – past questionsquestions

Short Answers:Short Answers: Why have radical feminists proclaimed Why have radical feminists proclaimed

that ‘the personal is the political’? that ‘the personal is the political’? (2002)(2002)

Why have feminists stressed the Why have feminists stressed the distinction between sex and gender? distinction between sex and gender? (2003)(2003)

How and why have feminists used the How and why have feminists used the concept of patriarchy? (2004)concept of patriarchy? (2004)

Feminism – past Feminism – past questionsquestions

Essay Questions – Essay Questions – ‘‘Feminism is characterised more by Feminism is characterised more by

disagreement than agreement’. disagreement than agreement’. Discuss. (2001)Discuss. (2001)

Why have radical feminists criticised Why have radical feminists criticised liberal feminists? (2002)liberal feminists? (2002)

‘‘There are liberal feminists, socialist There are liberal feminists, socialist feminists and radical feminists, but no feminists and radical feminists, but no conservative feminists’. Discuss (2004)conservative feminists’. Discuss (2004)

Nationalism – past Nationalism – past questionsquestions

Short Answers – Short Answers – Distinguish between nations and Distinguish between nations and

states, and explain why the two states, and explain why the two terms have been confused. (2002)terms have been confused. (2002)

Distinguish between nations and Distinguish between nations and races and explain why the two terms races and explain why the two terms are often confused. (2003)are often confused. (2003)

In what ways is nationalism In what ways is nationalism compatible with liberalism? (2004)compatible with liberalism? (2004)

NationalismNationalismWhat is a What is a ‘nation’ ‘nation’ ?? A cultural entity – groups of people A cultural entity – groups of people

sharing the same language, religion, sharing the same language, religion, tradition, culture.tradition, culture.

Nations are not, however, culturally Nations are not, however, culturally homogenous – there is considerable homogenous – there is considerable dispute as to what are the most significant dispute as to what are the most significant defining characteristics.defining characteristics.

This leads to the definition of a nation This leads to the definition of a nation often being more subjectively described as often being more subjectively described as the possession of ‘a national conscience’. the possession of ‘a national conscience’.

Nationalism – defining a Nationalism – defining a statestate

Such subjectivity in defining a state can Such subjectivity in defining a state can thus lead to a confusion of terms – e.g.thus lead to a confusion of terms – e.g.

Since many nations are also states (the Since many nations are also states (the nation-state), there is confusion nation-state), there is confusion between the cultural entity of the nation between the cultural entity of the nation and the political entity of the state;and the political entity of the state;

Since some right-wing nationalists Since some right-wing nationalists include race, or ethnicity, in their include race, or ethnicity, in their definition of a nation, the separate definition of a nation, the separate nature of race as a biological nature of race as a biological characteristic, and nation as a civic or characteristic, and nation as a civic or cultural entity, is confused.cultural entity, is confused.

NationalismNationalismCompatibility with other ideologies – Compatibility with other ideologies – Nationalism’s distinctive belief is that Nationalism’s distinctive belief is that

the nation is the central principle of the nation is the central principle of political organisation.political organisation.

How a nation might be established or How a nation might be established or administered is open to debate.administered is open to debate.

Thus, nationalism draws on many Thus, nationalism draws on many different ideological strands, creating different ideological strands, creating considerable diversity.considerable diversity.

NationalismNationalism We have everything from liberal We have everything from liberal

nationalism (nations regarded as moral nationalism (nations regarded as moral entities with distinctive rights – e.g. self-entities with distinctive rights – e.g. self-government) to conservative nationalism government) to conservative nationalism and expansionist nationalism.and expansionist nationalism.

Depending on which ideological Depending on which ideological tradition you are using, a brand of tradition you are using, a brand of nationalism can almost certainly be nationalism can almost certainly be found to be compatible with itfound to be compatible with it

NationalismNationalism The only exception is socialism, a The only exception is socialism, a

fundamentally internationalist fundamentally internationalist ideology.ideology.

Even here, socialist leaders in post-Even here, socialist leaders in post-colonial countries can be seen to colonial countries can be seen to have used nationalism to generate have used nationalism to generate support (e.g. Castro in Cuba, Nasser support (e.g. Castro in Cuba, Nasser in Egypt).in Egypt).

Nationalism – past Nationalism – past questionsquestions

Essay Questions – Essay Questions – ‘‘Fascism is nothing more than an Fascism is nothing more than an

extreme form of nationalism’. Discuss. extreme form of nationalism’. Discuss. (2002)(2002)

‘‘Nationalism is inherently expansionist Nationalism is inherently expansionist and destructive’. Discuss. (2003)and destructive’. Discuss. (2003)

‘‘To what extent can fascism be viewed To what extent can fascism be viewed as a blend of nationalism and as a blend of nationalism and socialism?’ (2004)socialism?’ (2004)

Nationalism in the UK Nationalism in the UK TodayToday

Analyse the different forms of Analyse the different forms of nationalism that operate within the nationalism that operate within the UK. (2002)UK. (2002)

Is nationalism in the UK progressive Is nationalism in the UK progressive or reactionary? (2003)or reactionary? (2003)

Is the notion of British nationalism Is the notion of British nationalism any longer meaningful? (2004)any longer meaningful? (2004)