Stalinism, Fascism, and National Socialism: A Comparative Analysis
Stalinism and Fascist Regimes
1. Stalinism:
A) The political organization of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics):
The CPSU (Communist Party), the only party, was formed by the central committee. It elected the secretary-general and the Council of People’s Commissars (Cabinet) and appointed soviets (the council) to the president, who was head of state and supreme soviet, which was the principal organ of the State.
B) Evolution of the USSR
Lenin (until 1924): During this period, the CPSU monopolized state power, developed the economy (NEP), and maintained the idea of an international community, which led to revolutionary waves in Europe.
Stalin (until 1953): He monopolized power within the party, establishing a personal dictatorship characterized by a cult of personality and repression. He created a state economy based on collectivization, industrial expansion, and multiple plans. He also applied the idea of socialism in one country.
2. The Fascist Regimes
These regimes appeared after the First World War due to the economic crisis and the weakness of democracies.
Causes:
Weak and unstable liberal states.
Social unrest.
Growth of the proletarian movement, seeking workers’ revolution, which frightened the European economic oligarchies.
Sense of humiliation.
Basis of Fascism
One-party system.
Mobilization of the masses.
Cult of the leader, whose attitude is unquestionable.
Respect for the middle class.
Doctrine of the youth.
Use and glorification of violence and war.
3. Italian Fascism
Causes of the crisis and the rise of fascism were:
Discomfort after the First World War caused by dissatisfaction with the peace accords.
The crisis of democracy in Italy.
The economic crisis and the exhaustion of the Italian economy due to war efforts.
Industrial disputes and protests from the workers’ movement.
The fear of revolution.
The seizure of power:
One-party dictatorship (PNF).
Suppression of individual liberties.
Prohibition of political parties and trade unions.
Corporate states: fascist unions.
Exalting the figure of the leader.
Expansionist vocation: invasion of Abyssinia (1935).
The fascist regime was implemented through various measures, which were:
Political violence as a means to stop any opposition.
The totalitarian socio-economic model was based on Italian corporatism.
4. German National Socialism or German Fascism
Hitler founded the German Nazi party in 1921. The causes of its rise were the situation of Germany after the war, characterized by dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles, the weakness of the democratic Weimar Republic, and economic difficulties that led to unemployment and inflation. The crisis of 1933 was crucial for Hitler’s rise to power (1933). His nationalist state was organized as follows: violent repression of political opponents and Jews, dissolution of political parties and unions, Nazi party control of the state, exaltation of the leader, development of weapons production, and an aggressive and expansionist foreign policy.