Essay: Role of the state under modern liberalism and fascism

The emergence of modern liberalism and fascism as a political ideology in the early 20th century has had a major influence on the role of the state.
Modern Liberalism retains the core principles of individualism, equality, universalism and meliorism, which is adopted by all variants of liberalism. However, this form of liberalism differs from its predecessor, classical liberalism, whom advocates economic liberalism. This principle which dominated much liberal thought in the 19th century, adopts a Laissez-faire vision of the economy. This perspective believed in self-regulating of the market and minimum government intervention, which guaranteed liberty of individuals and the prosperity of the market. This classical approach to economics was embraced throughout the industrialisation period of Europe which resulted into the shift of social liberalism (modern liberalism). In the late 19th and early 20th century, politicians and theorists felt that there were weaknesses in classical liberal ideas and policies, which could not provide freedom for everyone. Laissez-faire capitalism was criticised for causing poverty in Victorian Britain, increasing income inequality whereby rich individuals were able to influence politics and limit competition. In this circumstance, modern liberals felt that when it comes to maximising the concept of individual liberty, the state would be an enabling state which would provide social welfare, endorsing a form of positive liberty. In order to achieve this feature of qualified welfare, the intervention of the state was necessary.
The emergence of fascism arose due to a complex range of historical forces that were present during the interwar period. This included the failures of democratic countries in dealing with political and economic crises, in particular the Great Depression 1930. This political instability in combination with frustrated nationalism sprouted the creation of fascistic movements within Europe. Fascism is a complexed political ideology, difficult to define and to identify its core principles. According to historian Robert Paxton, fascism is a “form of political behaviour marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity,  energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion.” Mussolini’s Fascist dictatorship in Italy between 1922-44 and Hitler’s Nazi dictatorship in Germany in 1933-45, are regarded as the two principal manifestations of fascism. Both cases unique and different to one another, but fundamentally share the core principles and actions of fascism within the state. Key themes such as ultranationalism, anti-rationalism, elitism, totalitarianism constitute fascism’s structural core and can be identified in both regimes. The role of the state under fascism was dominated by the pursuit of making the nation stronger, more powerful and more successful. This is based on the core fascist belief in the state being ‘good’ if it is strong. Therefore, the fascist state uses any means necessary to achieve that goal. Both Mussolini and the Nazis believed in the idea of organic community and the strength of the nation was reflected in the cultural and moral unity of the community. The role of the state under fascism therefore adopted socialist style economic policies. This was also due to the common goal of fascist governments in achieving autarky.
In comparing the role of the state under modern liberalism and fascism, it is obvious that there are clear disparities between the two political ideologies. Whilst Liberalism is an advocate of equality and freedom, fascism is deeply elitist, fiercely patriarchal and authoritarian. Modern Liberalism still retains the core principle of individualism whilst fascism subscribes to collectivism, placing the community above the individual. Fascism also embraces ultra nationalism and the idea of national self-sufficiency in order to achieve progress. This contrasts hugely with the modern liberal belief that economic progress results from international trade and interdependence. The aim of this essay is to highlight the clear differences between thee two forms of political governance.
The role of the State under Modern Liberalism is based upon the central theme of individuals being born equal,  in the sense that they are of equal moral worth and should enjoy formal equality and equal opportunities.. The modern liberal state is characterised by diversity and pluralism and is organised politically in the form of a democracy. A Modern Liberal states main purpose is to “protect the individual’s equal right to equal freedom.” This central theme stemmed from the ideas formed during the French Revolution under the Enlightenment. This core principle is reflected in the Human Rights Act passed in 1998 which protects the right to liberty and freedom and constitutionalises the right to be treated and viewed equally. These core principles which are found in the ideas and values which characterised the French Revolution are the pillars which govern Modern Liberalist State policy. The emergence of fascism was sprung about by a revolt and rejection of the political creed that these ideas and valued spawned. Robert O. Paxton, highlights this rejection in fascistic governments. “Fascist dictatorships suppressed individual liberties, imprisoned opponents, forbade strikes, authorised unlimited police power in the name of national unity and revival, and committed military aggression,”. There is a clear difference in that the state under fascism disregards the value of liberty which is completely contrary to states under modern liberalism, whom understand and are committed to the notion of reason and debate. Fascisms rejection to liberty and equality can also be reinforced by the tyrannical dictatorial policies it tends to enforce. The Nazis under Hitler introduced radical reforms of its organisation and function in 1936, which involuntarily made sure that the German Population adopted Nazi doctrine. The Ortsgruppenleiter were assigned “a fraction of urban or rural territory responsible for the political outlook, education of every inhabitant, member or not.” Liberty was non-existent and the freedom of political thought and opportunity was not tolerated. Fascisms rejection of equality and its ideas were founded upon the belief that absolute leadership and elite rule was natural and desirable. Both Mussolini and the Nazis believed that the masses were weak and ignorant, not able to act within their best interests. Therefore, they believed that their destiny was unquestioning obedience to a supreme, all- seeing leader who possessed unrivalled authority. A dictator was the only way to achieve a strong and harmonious state. Such a pessimistic view of the capabilities of ordinary people is contradistinctive to Modern Liberal State values and political structure. Both Mussolini and Hitler “styled themselves simply as ‘the Leader’ – Mussolini proclaimed himself to be Il Duce, while Hitler adopted the title Der Führer”. The viewpoint that the leader was uniquely gifted and far more superior to the rest, cemented itself within the fasist dogma. The state under fascism also differs in its perspective of where authority should arise from. Under the dictatorship of both Hitler and Mussolini, authority resided with them only, their authority was absolute and unquestionable. They believed that “the role of the leader is to awaken the people to their destiny, to transform an inert mass into a powerful and irresistible force. Fascist regimes therefore exhibited populist-mobilizing features that set them clearly apart from traditional dictatorships.” Facist governments therefore tends to adopt a totalitarian dictatorship whereby the leader aims to indoctrinate the masses into supporting the regimes values and goals. This was illustrated under both Mussolini and the Nazis, with propaganda and rallies. This is completely the opposite of how modern liberal states operate. The state under modern liberalism functions under representative democracy with the belief that authority arises from the consent of the majority.
Another distinctive difference when comparing the role of the state under modern liberalism to fascism is the concept of individualism. Both modern and classical liberal theory are committed to the concept of individualism, which implies that “individual persons are unique and more real than any collective units. Therefore, the state and other such entities should exist for the sake of individuals.”. The belief in individualism stems from the liberal aim to enable people to help themselves, hence why all modern liberal states promote individual autonomy. Although, under Modern Liberal states, qualified welfare is the means by which positive freedom and equality of opportunity take place. Modern Liberal states operate under the belief  in relative form of social equality that is still grounded in individualism. The qualified state is used as a tool to allow individuals to choose to succeed. “The care of children and the protection of certain public utilities through regulative legislation were policies which showed compatibility with individualism”. In comparison with fascism, individualism is rejected and replaced with the emphasis on the organic unity of the national community. Under both the Nazis and Mussolini, the community was placed above the individual. The Nazi party strove to achieve the ideal of community, founded upon obedient service to the nation with a shared racial identity. “The slogan, ‘the needs of the people before the needs of self’, was repeated like a mantra throughout the life of the dictatorship.” Under the fascist state, policies of nationalisation and state regulation were enforced in hope of achieving the ideal organic community. Mussolini proclaimed in a 1925 speech, “Everything for the State; nothing against the state; nothing outside the state”. This clear advocacy for collectivism in the sense of the community having greater importance over the individual, is another feature which clearly distinguishes the differences of the role of the state under modern liberalism and fascism.
The role of the state under Modern Liberalism adopts an economic system combining private  and state enterprise. The purpose of the welfare state was to help those that were left behind as a result of the classical liberal laissez affaire economic policy . To correct market failures such as unemployment  and social inequality that the free market capitalist economy causes. However, when it comes to the economics of fascism it is far more complicated and less obvious. According to Lachian Montague (a researcher of fascism), “Fascist governments’ purported goal was autarky, or national self-sufficiency. In the 1920s and 1930s, fascist leaders pitched this as an effective middle ground between bourgeois, profit-oriented capitalism and revolutionary Marxism that would dismantle many social institutions and persecute the bourgeoisie.” Despite, the complexities of fascist economics, corporatism can be identified as a distinguishing feature of the state under fascism. It is linked with the fascist pursuit of organic community and is based upon the belief that “business and labour are bound together in an organic and unified whole.” In its broadest sense it is a means of incorporating organized interests into the processes of government. Italian fascism adopted authoritarian corporatism which Mussolini claimed to be the ‘third way’ between capitalism and socialism, a realistic economic alternative.  Economically this translated into the direct political control over industry and organised labour. An example of this corporatism is reflected in The Labour Charter (1927) which was introduced by Mussolini to Modernise the Italian economy. It promised that “workers and employers would sit down together in a “corporation” for each branch of the economy, and submerge class struggle in the discovery of their common interests.” Robert Paxton concluded that “fascist economic policy responded to political priorities, and not economic rationale.” In both Germany and Italy, fascist government cartels hugely influenced trade, finance, agriculture and manufacturing, and made decisions that upheld the core pursuit of increasing state power. However, there is evidence of both regimes allowing certain aspects of capitalism, collaborating with conservative businessman elites. Most of Mussolini’s famous corporatist economic organisation, was run by leading businessman. Fascism and businessman although they had obvious conflicting interests, found a common goal in protecting private property. So to conclude, there is obvious distinctions between the economic role of the state under modern liberalism and fascims. Modern Liberal states adopt Keynesian policies which they believe are vital in upholding the capitalist system of free trade and enterprise. Fascisms completely rejects modern liberal ideas of free trade and capitalism, adopting economic policies which reflected there purported goal of autarky. Modern Liberal economic policy tends to respond to economic rationale, whilst the latter to political priorities of increasing state power and influence. Despite the increased role given to the state by modern liberals, it is limited to providing qualified welfare and supervision of the economy, and does not correlate or support unlimited state power.
In conclusion, when it comes to analysing the role of the state under modern liberalism and fascism, there are clear differences. The core principles of both ideologies differ in ways which hugely influence the role of the state. Modern Liberalism importance of equality and freedom is characterised by the efforts of modern Liberal states of protecting individual autonomy and individual rights. Under fascist states, freedom and equality is rejected entirely, replaced with a belief of elitism and complete obedience towards a supreme authoritative dictatorship. Furthermore, unlike a modern liberal state who supports individualism, fascism adopts the notion of collectivism and the overriding importance of the community over the individual. Lastly, both political ideologies differ in economic policy, with fascist governments adopting corporatism and the rejection of economic rationale.