2 Nov 2009
Jack Dixon
There exists still today much confusion over the difference between nazism and fascism and I do not see a clear distinction made in this review.
Fascism was a relatively mild form of right-wing dictatorship and was practised only in Italy and Spain. Nazism, or hitlerism, was an extreme left-wing movement. The acronym NAZI stands for NAtional Workers Socialist Party. It is no accident that all the murderous, genocidal tyrannies of the 20th century -- count them, from Lenin & Stalin to Castro, Mugabe and Chavez -- are left-wing.
It is a triumph of left propaganda that nazism has been identified as a fascist, i.e right-wing, movement, and that Stalin's communism as relatively benign.
3 Nov 2009
Rebecca Bynum
It is true that the National Socialist Worker's party began as a revolutionary left wing organization, but Hitler sold out for personal power to the military and industrial establishment. Rohm was much more of a revolutionary than Hitler was. I think Hitler's core beliefs in racial destiny and so forth are more or less the logical extreme of scientism and can't be characterized as either left or right.
I would characterize socialism as inherently fascistic. There is a belief in one group or class, of humanity as destined to rule - in actuality of course, power was concentrated in very few hands - and no thought of self-government for the masses. The old monarchic mode of governance in that sense too, is fascistic.
I wouldn't say fascism is inherently right or left - it can come in from either side.