Back to Basics

Fascism has returned in the 21st Century as a hip, fashionable, orderly alternative to the messiness of democracy. The “Peoples” Republic of China is the leading role model of modern fascism, and other countries, such as Russia, are following its lead. Resurgent fascism is perhaps the greatest current threat to the continuing expansion of global democracy and freedom, possibly even greater than Islamic fundamentalism.

Democracies offer three types of freedom: economic, political and social. Individuals have economic freedom when they can privately own property, when they can work any job for which they are qualified and when they can consume any products for which they can pay. Individuals have political freedom if they have the right to assemble and discuss political ideas, join any nonviolent political groups, and select their leaders in open fair elections. Individuals have social freedom when they can engage in a variety of activities, including religious association and expression.

As an alternative modern fascism offers a devil’s bargain: economic freedom without political or social freedom. This deal is highly attractive to the global poor, especially those that have no experience with democracy. People everywhere are first and foremost concerned with physical survival and a living standard above the poverty level, and increasing economic freedom creates opportunities to improve living standards. Most people unfamiliar with democracy do not perceive that political and social freedom will improve their living standards. If given a choice between improved living standards and political/social freedom, these people will take improved living standards. Fascist regimes understand that economic needs trump all other needs, and that the fulfillment of economic needs makes the fulfillment of other needs less important. Meeting economic needs provides a rational for police-state governments that suppress political and social freedom, which is accepted by the majority as long as living standards improve.

Unfortunately, leaders of western democracies have the delusional belief that economic freedom alone would convert China into a democracy. Somehow economic freedom would create circumstances that overthrow authoritarian regimes and allow political and social freedom to blossom. Ever since Nixon and Kissinger “opened” China in the early 70s each succeeding American administration has assumed that increased economic contact with the United States would push the Chinese toward democracy. The evidence is in- it’s not working. Forty years later China is still a one-party dictatorship that suppresses political and social freedom.

Why should we care about resurgent fascism? Neither China nor Russia is currently attempting to militarily take over their neighbors; therefore they are not a present physical threat to us or our allies. However China in particular is a long term threat because it serves as a role model for underdeveloped countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, and most particularly for Muslim countries with fundamentalist tendencies and sizable natural resources (for example, Iran). China’s combination of spectacular economic growth and police-state government appeals to the leaders of these countries, many of whom are dictators or dictator-wannabes. Furthermore, China is investing heavily in many of these countries, which essentially gives these leaders more wealth to establish or maintain their dictatorships.

Even more ominously, resurgent fascism appeals to people living in democracies. Many living in democracies no longer value democracy, perhaps because they have never lived in a dictatorship without freedoms.