The first video provides a brief bit of background about Marxism - not Communism in practice, but Communism in theory - and another brief bit of background for fascism. The second and third videos are variations of the same on Marxism, the second being slightly more "fun" to watch, and the third allowing for a comparison with Capitalism during the Industrial Revolution as well as background on pre-Industrial society and feudal life. The last video is a new update. Just a brief show of the rise of Communism and Fascism in the 1920's pulled from a History channel documentary that was spliced on youtube - ignore the abrupt ending. ;)
47 Comments
Cam
8/3/2017 11:47:25 am
This is cool!! #neato
Reply
Navya Katragadda
8/3/2017 03:05:48 pm
Communism first was started as an idea by Karl Marx after the Industrial Revolution who saw the suffering of the peasants. It was to close the gap between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat, which was the working class. This would be a society where everybody would be equal and produce for everyones benefit. But this system is rarely seen in modern day countries due to “communist” countries having a totalitarian government. Communism gained popularity post World War 1 and many leaders around the world adapted the idea to their own ideologies. First Benito Mussolini started a Fascist regime post World war 1 which was centered on a nationalistic platform, made to push Italy towards prosperity and strength. The working and middle classes were heavily infiltrated into the Fascist propaganda. They were ensured security through the union of the people and the state. However in Russia, Lenin took over and was trying to fight the destruction caused by disease, civil war and starvation. He wanted to help the class struggle and eventually Russia had a socialist totalitarian government. Eventually Stalin took over and launched his 5-year plan to catch up on the industrialization in the rest of the world. If peasants did not want to work in a factory, they would be sent to concentration camps. In America, there was no forceful government and was trying to stay isolationist. Also, Adolf Hitler took after Mussolini’s mission and established a fascist regime in Germany and overthrew the government, to become chancellor in 1933. The original idea of communism is far gone in these countries in the 20th century.
Reply
Charlie
8/3/2017 03:48:21 pm
Communism and fascism are two political ideologies that are often confused and placed together. However they are really quite different in theory but similar in practice. Communism is all about everyone sharing communal resources and contributing for the good of the group. However in order to transfer to this way of thinking there needs to be a revolution spearheaded by people who will run the country during this time of change. However instead of a utopia communist leaders are power hungry and use repression and terror to stay in power.
Reply
Bryce Burrell
8/3/2017 05:44:56 pm
The Communist Party and act of fascism became prominent after World War I. In philosophy, Communism was meant to be inevitable as we grew as societies, giving and receiving equally to survive. In practice it proved to be more totalitarian than socialist, resembling fascism as Stalin and Mao adapted the idea into their own ways. Communism soon spread which led to the take over of other states such as the obtaining of control by Mussolini.
Reply
Patrick Kramer
8/4/2017 05:15:21 am
(First video) in the years before World War 1, there were two primary sides of the political spectrum, liberals and conservatives. Liberals wanted weaker government, more economic freedoms, and believed in enlightenment and science. Conservatives on the other hand wanted stronger government, tradition, and order in society. Communism arose under Karl Marx in the mid 19th century. In Marxist history, the belief was that it would go from hunters and gatherers with intermediate steps finally leading up to communism. The intermediate steps had to do with the political ideologies at the time and class struggles between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. His prediction was that Revolution would occur in 1847, but did not happen. Instead, the liberal elites (the new industrial elites) rose to power. However his ideas still spread to important characters in history, Lenin and Mao who each developed their own beliefs on communism. They believed that educated leaders could carry out the revolution and then lead the state themselves, which is what they did. On the other side, Fascism was growing under Benito Mussolini. He believed that Fascism could restore prosperity and strength in society which focused on tradition, industrialization, and a union of people and state under the ideas of supernationalism, militarism, and expansionism. The people would ensure their own safety. The costs of Fascism however are less freedom, censorship, and the oppression of dissidents. Fascism took its own form in Germany, Spain, East Europe, and South America.
Reply
Ajay Kanteti
8/4/2017 12:32:39 pm
Both videos tackle a common theme- The rise of communism and Fascism directly through the aftermath of World War 1 and the period of economic uncertainty/instability that gripped Europe during that time. Communism is defined as an egalitarian economic and political system created by Karl Marx in which the workers, who hold all the capital, hold equal political power and no individual leads the country. Karl Marx believed that this communist society could reached through the emergence of temporary leaders who would guide the people into running the country smoothly and then step down from power. However, many different versions of Communism emerged throughout post-war Europe and with Russia's usurpation of power in many Eastern European countries, the Soviet Union was formed, with Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin in power. After consolidating power by having Trotsky assassinated, Stalin formed a dictatorship and began purging his rivals. On the other hand, Fascism after World War 2 largely began with a man named Benito Mussolini. The ideology of Fascism was originally created in order to divert from the two major political parties at the time- the conservatives and liberals- and took elements from each party's agenda such as a progressive attitude towards Industrialization and desire for big government in order to form their own. Unlike Communism, this form of government encourages the formation of a state that controls all aspects of government and all details of its citizen's lives and a dog-like obedience to this authority. It allowed both Benito Mussolini to seize power in Italy as well as Adolf Hitler to take power in Germany by tapping into nationalism of their citizens and therefore allowing them to control their citizens easily. In total, the two videos discuss the difference and similarity between the social and economic policies of Communist and Fascist systems and their respective usurpation of power in Europe after World War 1.
Reply
Paige O'Rourke
8/4/2017 03:26:05 pm
Communism and Fascism are two radical political ideas that in a sense reject each other but are so radical that they could be related. In the first video, the introduction of communism began with the idea of Marx and that communism is a rejection of both liberal and conservative political ideas. The capital system that Marx saw in place was necessary for the proletariat working class to rise up and overthrow the unequal system. Communism fosters the idea that the working class holds the power because they are the physical makers of any product and therefore the educated people should lead the nation to work for the communal good like the proletariat. Contrasting the communist idea of a weak, more delegate based government, fascism builds on the strong central government with a single dictator that embodies the ideals of the nation. These ideals are the strict ideas of religion, race, and gender roles that offer the foundation for the super-nationalism and militarism that the video discusses. In order to maintain these beliefs, there is minimal individual freedom and oppression of minorities of both race and religion. The video offers historical insight into why each of these ideas was able to develop in post WWI Europe. Economic problems plagued Russia, Italy, and Germany and each of these areas searched for the result and most thought the Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany and Italy, allowing for the super-nationalism and militarism, that lead to fascism, to become accepted. Lenin in Russia simply seized the opportunity to help the lower social class. WWII brought change to each of the nations' political ideas. The fascist axis powers, had a strong military showing because of their build ups but the end of war led to the toppling of both of these governments. In Russia, the party split after Lenin's death leaving a 4 year battle for leader where Stalin rose as the supreme and killed many people to keep his power. He had a more domestic focus for the development of communism which is what split him from Trotsky.
Reply
Kayla Jenkins
8/4/2017 03:32:06 pm
Both the concept of Communism and the ideology behind it were created by and first introduced into society by Karl Marx. The ideas behind Marxism weren't fit for an authoritarian or a totalitarian government, yet by the late 19th century both Mao Zedong (China) and Vladimir Lenin (Russia) had adopted certain aspects of Marxism and were ready to make Communism a practice and not just a theory. Fascism was essentially founded by Mussolini in Italy, yet it was a form of government that didn't necessarily take anything from communism or liberalism/conservatism. Mussolini believed super-nationalism, militarism, expansionism were keys to success and growth, especially in torn down post-WWI Italy. Despite what it may seem like, Communism and Fascism are on two different ends of the scale. Fascism resulted in less individual freedom, significant censorship, and the oppression of many minorities. Either of these two government forms was adopted post World War I by countries who had been severely weakened by fighting, war costs, and reparations. Because nations like Russia, Germany, and Italy were so vulnerable it was remarkably easy for a "leader" to rise to the occasion and take control of a country. By their leaders encouraging nationalism and militarism these nations were soon converted to either communism, fascism, or socialism.
Reply
ERIC
8/4/2017 06:11:26 pm
Communism was an idea originally thought up by dat boii Karl Marx. He produced this idea after an industrial revolution occurred in Russia, which created a huge class gap between the Bourgeoisie, the middle classand the Proletariat, the lower, working class. In Karl's idea of class structure, the widening of classes was just a phase towards the utopian society based on Communism, where everyone produced for every one else and they took as needed. He believed that the Proletariat would eventually take over and overthrow the Bourgeoisie, but couldn't do it alone. They needed a step in the right direction, that is where the educated middle class came in. The lower class would over throw the upper class with help of educated Individuals and would eventually result in a perfect society. Communism. Fascism, is similar to communism in the aspects of being all for one one for all if you werent an outsider. Fascism used fear and terror tactics to force people under their control. It was incredibly effective. This is how many extreme rulera like Hitler and Mussolini gained power and kept it for such a long time. And that is how it spread throughout many weak countries as well. It was a great way to control many people and keep it orderly because of the fear it bestowed upon them.
Reply
Chris Compton
8/4/2017 06:54:52 pm
Communism and Fascism paragraph
Reply
David
8/4/2017 08:22:35 pm
Communism and fascism are two ideologies that rose and were taking over majority of the eastern hemisphere after World War 1. They are both quite similar, in practice that is (as Mr.Lynch corrected me in class about this). They both are totalitarian, with a leader overseeing everything, bringing them to have mostly all the power. However, in theory there are differences placing them both on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Communism is centered around the people, and everyone contributing to the society. On the other hand, the ideologies in Fascism are opposing. In theory, and fairly the same in practice, fascist governments usually focus on the importance of the country over the importance of the peoples, which is ruled by a authoritarian leader.
Reply
Ariyah Jones
8/4/2017 08:30:29 pm
Karl Marx first expressed the call for communism during the industrial revolution. His Utopian system was adopted, in theory, by Lenin and Mao. These leaders, while expressing different views on the execution of the system, took control and put themselves and the government in place of the Proletariat to "guide their people." World War One's end brought the rise of communism's popularity. Following World War One, fascism started to gain popularity. While communism, a far left, and fascism, a far right, are often seen as being on opposite ends of the spectrum, they actually have many things in common. They are both typically authoritarian with strict government policies and a lack of many rights. The intersections of conservative and liberal camps in the fascist governments aid in the allowance of their closeness to communism in practice. The rise of these governments in the USSR, Italy, and Germany in the years following WWI were fueled by some of the same struggles and beliefs. Each nation also incurred unique power struggles as the systems changed. In the USSR, following the death of Lenin, there was a power struggle which Stalin won. In fascist Italy, Mussolini came to power.Hitler still had to wait following the failure of the Beer Hall Push.The 2 extremes are closer than they seem in terms of ideology and the treatment of people.
Reply
Carter Best
8/5/2017 06:06:43 am
Karl Marx pioneered communism in the mid-1800's as a social ideology that demonized capitalism and glorified the proletariat. Marx thought that humankind was on an inevitable march towards eventual communist society since the dawn of time. Marx believed that this march was fueled by class struggle. Class struggle describes the process by which new social classes revolt over the old class structure to create a new structure. Marx believed the proletariat were to be the next example of such an uprising and hoped for world-wide revolution. These ideas were adopted by Lenin in Russia, leading to several Bolshevik Revolutions and millions of deaths. Lenin's communism differed from that of traditional Marxism, however, in that the proletariat revolution was not led by the common working man, but by educated revolutionaries. These revolutionaries then would take over the government and implement communism with absolute authority. This seems to contradict the true ideas of communism as a people's revolution and a utopia in which no man dominates any other. Just as said in the video, it seems as though Lenin followed a more fascist template than a communist one. As communism grew so too did fascism, with Mussolini being the first major fascist leader to emerge in Europe post-WWI. As he paraded himself as the living incarnation of the state and the people's identity, he eventually became absolute dictator. Mussolini soon inspired several other fascist revolutions throughout war-torn Europe, leading, most notably, to the rise of Hitler. Hitler's persecution of non-Germans is perhaps the most defining factor of his reign, however this is not, in fact, unique to his version of fascism, as persecution of dissidents or those who don't perfectly "fit-in" is a fundamental part of fascism. This characteristic further bolsters the argument that Russia and the USSR were never truly communist, but were always fascist to a degree, as Stalin carried out purges of dissidents to his rule just as the fascist leaders to his west were doing at the time.
Reply
Matthew Brubacher
8/5/2017 07:14:40 am
The political struggle in Russia in the early 20th century was marked by what Karl Marx deemed a "revolution"; the lack the basic human necessities faced by the peasants and the vast social inequality allowed for the educated to lead the Proletariat and revolt. In 1917, Russia withdrew from World War I, as internal conflicts hindered their military power and overall commitment to war. Lenin came to power, but the years immediately after his arrival to power were marked by disease, famine, and death. Between 1918 and 1921, over 14 million Russians died from lack of basic needs. Lenin developed the New Economic Policy and strove to develop Russia into the communist state envisioned by Karl Marx many years before. However, immediate change is not possible, as there has to be a transition period to move from a capitalistic society to a communist one. Therefore, in 1924, the U.S.S.R was created, a socialist-dictatorship lead by Lenin and the communist party. In their minds, it would function as a period of time in which the country would reform significantly in order for communism to function as it should in theory. Capital materials (factories, equipment, etc.) and land were to be owned communally, hence, communism. Everybody were to produce for the greater good of everyone, producing based on abilities and taking based on needs. In pure theory, this is exactly what the world needed; economic and social inequality caused the elite few to control everybody and many millions were barely able to stay alive. Communism, however, would change that, there would be no more inequality, only prosperity for all. Considering human nature, in no way would this theory every function as it was intended to- greed would dominate the mind, causing corruption and more inequality. Back to the U.S.S.R, Lenin died in 1924, and there was a power struggle between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky; Trotsky believed that communism would only function if the entire world practiced it, leading him to desire a world revolution. On the other hand, Stalin was looking for ways to become a stronger dictator and consolidate his power. Eventually, Stalin gained power and changed the U.S.S.R into a country in which it was very difficult for communism to be achieved. Trotsky was closest to the Marxist-Leninist theories in that a world revolution would allow communism to function better.
Reply
Parrish Studebaker
8/5/2017 08:15:10 am
The diversity of political thought and the nature of the animosity over differences in socio-political ideology were irrevocably broadened in the aftermath of WWII. Previously the vast majority of political thought in eurasia had been devided between the opposing views of liberal and concervative ideologies, wherein concervatism held with socio-political action motivated by traditional ideas and the need for strong government, and liberalism perscribed weaker government, greater personal freedom, and the motivation of socio-political action through reason, science, and industry. However in the wake of WWII economic turmoil developed in much of europe influencing the developement of Carl Marxi's theory of communism, which proposed that humanity would progress through the stages of development until industrialization that would lead the opressed proletariat- alienated from the fruits of there labor- to rise up and overthrow the industrial elite, leading to the formation of a utopian society of shared productivity and unmitigated prosperity for all. This ideology, comendable in theory, has never been truly implemented in any nation, as all that have tried were not of a sufficient level of industrialization to have devloped a substantial prolitariaet, thus the leaders in russia and china declered that they could lead the revolution, while in actuallity seizing authoritarian rule, in conflict with the fundamental princepels of Marxist theory that holds that in a true communist society the government should desolve completely as it is unneeded. The second major result of the economic disparity post WWII was the development of fascism in italy by Benito Mussolini, who's ideas seized upon the desperation of the worker and the people's sense of nationalism that had been severly wounded by the treaty of Versailles. Mussolini used this to establish a totalitarian regime that blended earlier principles of liberalism and conservatism to create a system of absolute control by government, traditional values, and liberal use of industustry and expansionism. Thus Fascism as an ideology was born and soon spread to germany where it was used by Adolf Hitler to incite the support of the german people, through it did not succeed at first. Hitlers first attempt at a fascist revolt, the beer hall putsch, failed miserably and resulted in his incarceration for 9 months of a 5 year sentence, wherein he wrote "Mein Kamph" to disseminate his economic, racist, authoritarian, and eugenic ideas, to the german people, scapegoating the jewish people and allowing for his rise to power. In conclusion the largest conflict seen in Europe at that time was the catalyst that revolutionised political thought, while simultaneously leading to the out break of emense conflict later; not only in WWII but in the cold war that the rise of "communist" states would bring about. Thus Fascism and communism changed the political landscape to this day, and have changed the nature of war itself.
Reply
Travis Wilkinson
8/5/2017 08:21:54 am
Communism was started by Karl Marx because he saw potential in the peasants as being the next working class and sought in helping them arise over both the proletariat and bourgeoisie. He thought it would be equal because no one would be over or under anyone and everyone would benefit for their selves in the ends. All that was needed was a revolution by the peasants which didn't happen because of the leaders who came to power i.e. the liberals (new industrial elites). But this did influence other leaders who saw the creativity and success of Communism like Lenin and Mao. They went about it their own way and made it successful.
Reply
Eddie
8/5/2017 08:43:51 am
Both communism and fascism were products of dissatisfaction with the liberal and conservative political ideologies of the pre-WWI world. As these societies rejected the popular ideologies of the previous era, many political leaders began studying and adapting Marxist philosophies of the mid-19th century. One particular 20th century Marxist was Vladimir Lenin, who was attracted to Marx’s societal visions after famine and civil war swept through post-WWI Russia. Lenin was able to create a socialist state in Russia during the 1920s, and many of his ideas were used again in the creation of Mao’s socialist state in China. Another similar adaptation of Marxist philosophy took place in 1920s Italy, where Benito Mussolini rose to power and implemented a fascist government. Although fascist ideology did not contain the same revolutionary ideas as Lenin and Mao’s communism, Mussolini’s society contained both a conservative government and liberal industrialists. Fascist Italy focused heavily on industrialization, expansionism, and nationalism, however it was unable to provide for individual freedom and protect against governmental oppression.
Reply
Mason Favro
8/5/2017 08:52:32 am
The first video is a history of communism and fascism, detailing their beginnings and their rise to prominence in the post war turbulence of Europe. Communism was first proposed by the German intellectual Karl Marx, whose initial interpretation inspired the Russian dissident Vladimir Lenin, who in turn inspired his own following with his radical style and fiery speeches. Lenin turned Marx's idea of a worker's utopia into a reality, although he admittedly did a very poor job of it, and Lenin's USSR ended up a dictatorial state that had more in common with the authoritarian tendencies of fascism than the high minded idealism of Marx. Fascism was the polar opposite of communism. It was a set of ideals that essentially merged the state and the people into a single consciousness, had no tolerance for dissent, and a fierce hatred for the "other". It was put into practice first by Benito Mussolini of Italy, then by Hitler, and we all know how well that went for both of them... The second video focused not on the ideology but instead on the practical history and consequences of the systems that arose from the ideas. Under Lenin's doctrine of war communism, Russia initially experienced famines and millions of deaths before Lenin transitioned into his NEP, a mix between socialism and capitalism that enabled Russia to get back on its feet after the havoc wreaked by WW1. In the fascist sphere, Mussolini took advantage of an Italian population that felt slighted by the Treaty of Versailles, using the popular discontent to catapult himself and his followers to a position of power, espousing xenophobic and toxic views the whole time. In Germany Hitler's initial coup attempt, the Munich Beer Hall Putsch failed miserably, resulting in prison sentences for Hitler and his cronies. This time allowed Hitler to write Mein Kampf, his memoir and manifesto that was a critical catalyst in his eventual ascension to complete power.
Reply
Emma Sollenberger
8/5/2017 09:33:43 am
Communism and fascism both developed in Europe, but under different circumstances and for different reasons. Communism was a theory adapted/created by Karl Marx that he believed modeled the progressions of human society. Marx saw communism as the inevitable conclusion of human development. Leaders like Lenin adapted this ideology to fit their respective countries. Some communist leaders believed in a socialist transition between capitalism and communism, while others argued for a world-wide revolution.
Reply
Mckenzie G
8/5/2017 09:51:21 am
Communism and Fascism are two political ideologies that are on two different sides of the spectrum. Communism is considered liberal while fascism is conservative. The Communist believe in expanding the government. One of the things they both have in common is the condition of the countries that fall to communism or fascism. After WWI, the economies and livelihoods of the countries worsened, allowing for dictatorships to form.
Reply
Madison Koenig
8/5/2017 10:04:58 am
Before World War I, the political ideology was that of liberals and conservatives. Liberals believed in weaker government, freedoms, and enlightenment whereas conservatives believed in a strong government, order, safety and tradition. After WWI, new political ideologies began to emerge in parts of the world that were trying to recover from the impact that World War I had on their nations. Communism and facism both rejected the ideologies of liberals and conservatives, though hints of liberalism and conservatism can be found in both political ideologies. Carl Marx is the man noted with the development of the idea of communism; this ideology wanted everything to be prosperous and equal - beneficial for everybody. In the 1840s, capitalism was the central political ideology; it consisted of the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat, the upper and lower class respectively. Marx believed that though the Bourgeoisie were the upper class with the power that the true power laid in the hands of the Proletariat since they were the producers of society. He thought that if the Proletariat class would revolt, then an ideological shift would occur, closing the gap between the two classes in hopes of a more utopian, communist society. Lenin and Mao both adopted Marxism and adapted it into their own versions. They wanted the leaders to cause a revolution to result in their rule of their countries.
Reply
Demi Adeoye
8/5/2017 10:50:24 am
According to video one, communism and fascism are two political ideologies that are essential for understanding twentieth century history after World War 1. However, in order to fully understand them, one must first understand their origins. Before World War 1, there were two main ideologies: conservatism and liberalism. Conservatives wanted to maintain order and safety through the use of traditional forms and a strong government. On the other hand, liberals preferred enlightenment and scientific explanations over traditional ones, and wanted more economic and personal freedoms through a weaker government.
Reply
Patrick Will
8/5/2017 12:39:40 pm
In simply analyzing the political ideologies of fascism and communism, the conclusion one would probably reach would be that the two are vastly different; however when one considers the implementation of two policies, the line between the two suddenly becomes incredibly blurred. While communism preaches equality for all and no government whatsoever as a be all end all for all societies, 'communism' as we know it certainly did not follow this doctrine, more resembling fascism with its totalitarian, nationalistic government, with both being highly oppressive of minorities, reducing individual freedom, and using large amounts of censorship and propaganda to further their agendas. Hence we see the hypocrisy innate in the communist systems, and how they more resemble fascist ideology.
Reply
Seema Jindia
8/5/2017 01:18:08 pm
Communism and fascism appear to completely reject liberal and conservative ideas existing before WWI, but they were actually based off this ideology. Communism is an idea that was made by Karl Marx. His theory was that the proletariat (lower class) would revolt against the bourgeoise (middle class) due to social class tensions. This would then cause the lower class to seize power and create a communist society. Though this was Marx’s idea, Lenin and Mao had their own versions of communism. Fascism was a different political ideology that was more prominent in Italy, Nazi Germany, Spain, Eastern Europe, and South America. Under this system, the people are under complete control of the government. There are many costs associated with communism such as the loss of individual freedom, censorship, political violence, and oppression.
Reply
Jenny Shen
8/5/2017 01:27:03 pm
Communism and Fascism gained popularity in the early 20th century due to the aftermath of WWI. Many people felt that the Treaty of Versailles treated their countries poorly and unfairly. In addition to this, there was famine, disease, and death. Communist and Fascist leaders used this as an opportunity to boost their ideologies and gain power. Communism originated from Karl Marx during the Industrial Revolution. He felt that a communist society would be viable because he watched the exploitation of the working class. Marx predicted that eventually, the working class would band together against the bourgeoisie to overthrow the middle class in order to create an utopian society. However, a true communist society has not been viable because of human nature and government intervention. Communist leaders like Lenin and Mao then took the idea of communism and expanded it to apply to their respective country. On the other hand, Fascism was developed under Mussolini. It was more centered on the country,thus nationalism to promote prosperity in Italy and the possible recreation of the Roman Empire. These ideas then spread to other areas in the world, like West Europe and South America. Both of these ideas in practice are not sustainable on the large scale because of the amount of work that has to be put into each citizen. Dissidents of these practices would have to not exist, and to do this, extreme measures would have to be taken, which was seen with Stalin’s purges, and lots of censorship. In theory, Communism and Fascism are different, but in practice, they both result in an authoritarian state.
Reply
Melina Khorrami
8/5/2017 01:53:26 pm
Communism and Fascism both ignited as a result of the aftermath of the first World War. While both included Liberal and Conservative principles, both also rejected those ideologies. Liberals advocated for a weaker central government and focused more on the economy and industry, while Conservatives insisted upon a stronger central government that would ensure maintenance of tradition.
Reply
Jacob Pressley
8/5/2017 02:08:30 pm
Communism was a political ideology developed by Karl Marx during the industrial revolution in response to how social classes were developing at that time. His theory stated that the population was divided into two social classes: the proletariat, or the working class, and the bourgeoisie, or the middle/upper class. The proletariat, after being exploited by the bourgeoisie, would rise up and overthrow them and create an economy in which everyone is equal and prosperous. Fascism is a political ideology in which the state has complete control of all aspects of the economy and the country. It thrives on extreme nationalism and militarism. At the end of World War 1, fascism and communism began spreading in Europe. In Russia, due to years of poverty and famine, a communist revolution was launched that placed Vladimir Lenin in charge who ended war communism and began developing the economy of the newly created USSR, but died in 1924 leading to a power struggle between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, the latter of whom eventually became the sole leader of the USSR. He then began rapidly industrializing the nation and arresting/executing dissenters and followers of Trotsky. In Italy, Benito Mussolini began trying to overthrow the Italian government with his "Black Shirts" and eventually led a March on Rome that forced the Italian king, Victor Emmanuel, to make him Prime Minister which Mussolini then used to elevate himself to supreme dictator. In Germany, Adolf Hitler created the Nazi party which was based off of Mussolini's fascist party. He led an attempted coup, called the Beer Hall Putsch, but this ultimately failed and led to Hitler's arrest for treason. He serve nine months of his twenty year sentence and wrote Mein Kampf, which outline his views and goals. He was eventually made chancellor and then became supreme dictator in 1933 due to the popularity of his ideals of making Germany strong again after the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles.
Reply
Lia Assefa
8/5/2017 02:11:49 pm
Reply
Mak Yost
8/5/2017 02:12:36 pm
Both videos combined:
Reply
Kevan M. Washington
8/5/2017 03:28:50 pm
At the end of the first video the narrator asked a question somewhere along the lines of how outside factors such as nationalism and militarism were so critical in the growth of communism and fascism if they were the same factors that led to WWI. The answer lies more or less in the essence of our own human nature. Post WWI countries like Italy and Germany were damaged and made to feel inferior by their victors, somewhat of a big brother, little brother case, and it just so happened that this time little brother was tired of being put down and shamed. Leaders like Hitler and Mussolini realized that the only way they could regain their respect is if they promised their people that their nation would be great again if they had all hands on deck, if everyone believed that they could be great, which in turn created a hue sense of nationalism based not on the condition their countries were in, but what they ideally could be.
Reply
Tori
8/5/2017 03:41:56 pm
The Western understanding of Communism and Fascism is often very wrong and different from Karl Marx's original theory revolving around the political system. In theory, communism is about equality and everyone working for everyone else's benefit and the elimination of divisions of any kind between people. In practice, communism really has more elements of a totalitarian government with the head being a dictator. This adaptation happened when communism rose in popularity, specifically in Russia and China, and both Mao Zedong and Vladimir Lenin adapted the political concept to fit the needs of the environment and situation they were in. Hence, both leaders became dictators and their political systems were based off of an authoritative government. The reason that fascism and communism rose after WW1 was because so many governments and nations were weak and in need of hope and a new political and economic system. The people of the countries which lost WW1 needed a person to guide them and restore their hope, hence the rise of so many dictators such as Hitler, Lenin and Mussolini.
Reply
Zholi
8/5/2017 04:34:04 pm
Both arising from the aftermath of WWI, communism and fascism both rejected the common political ideologies of the time. In the 19th century, Marx published his manifesto, explaining how society started as hunter gatherers, progressed through intermediary steps which would include revolution, and then eventually reached this utopic idea of communism. Although the people did revolt like Marx wanted, he wasn't satisfied with the results because people were still being oppressed. Marx's ideas eventually spread to China and Russia, where many of Marx's ideologes were manipulated. In fact, Russia's leader Lenin, was seen as a dictator, not a communist leader. Fascism, mainly created by Mussolini, saw Communism as very radical. Fascist governmnets controlled industries and also failed to use their population effectively. The people put all their faith in the State, leading to totalitarian control-meaning less idividual freedoms. Yet, they were extremely nationalistic. Hitler also claimed to be Fascist. Both of these ways of governing were very different in practice than what they claimed to be in theory.
Reply
Maggie F
8/5/2017 04:53:10 pm
The political theory of Communism developed by Karl Marx increased in popularity after WW1 with the intent to reject liberalism and conservatism. Marx believed in a proletariat revolution against the bourgeoisie (the class struggle), but Lenin and Mao chose to adapt Marxist communism to fit their own needs. (In fact, modern day countries who claim to be communist don't follow the communist ideology of Marx). Lenin and Mao believed that educated leaders with authoritarian control could lead the revolution, with the peasants, not the industrial working class, revolting. Lenin created the USSR dictatorship after his socialist/capitalist New Economic Policy worked to help Russia after WW1. Fascism, on the other hand, rejected communism. Fascism focused on totalitarian control, both combining and rejecting liberal and conservative ideas. The union of people and state is most important. Fascism rose to popularity following Mussolini replacing the king to "rebuild the Roman Empire" and Hitler after his failed overthrow of the government (beer hall push) and his 9 months imprisonment.
Reply
Mariah Christian
8/5/2017 05:21:02 pm
Communism and Fascism are two political ideologies that grew in popularity after World War I. Both ideologies were founded on some of the same basic beliefs and principles of both liberalism and conservatism (pre WWI). The original idea of communism was founded by Karl Marx and some of its characteristics included the idea of equality between all members of a society, as well as no class divisions. Communism was founded during a time when there was a class struggle between the Bourgeoisie and Proletariats. Marx believed that although the Bourgeoisie believed that they held political and economic control, the Proletariats actually had the true power. The theory of Communism was later adapted by leaders such as Stalin and Trotsky, who had opposing ideas concerning which direction Communism should be taken in. Overall, Marx's original theory for Communism is very different from the ones seen in history books today. As for Fascism, it is the idea of super nationalism, less individual freedom/censorship, as well as the oppression of minorities. Similarly to Communism, it was also founded on some of the same basic beliefs and principles of both liberalism and conservatism (pre WWI). The main founder of Fascism was Mussolini who claimed that fascism could restore prosperity and strength to the Italian government. Fascism later spread to other areas, such as Spain, Eastern Europe, and South America, and it was picked up by other (infamous) world leaders, such as Hitler.
Reply
Eleanor
8/5/2017 05:38:40 pm
I had always viewed fascism and communism as practically the same thing, as their results when attempted in the twentieth century came to the same end: failure. I still think that they are closely related, but not for their reality, but their goal. In both videos, it was repeated several times that for each variation of communism and fascism, the goal was "restoration of prosperity" or a "return to glory days." These sentiments are not new to politics, and I'm sure that two hundred years down the road charismatic, egotistical politicians will continue to preach of a righteous return to peace and prosperity. It's difficult to incite change by giving speeches about something old, and I think that communism and fascism were used in the twentieth century as new titles for the same power-grabbing game. They both relied heavily on nationalism and a push towards industrialization and urbanization. However, I do find it interesting that communism was proposed as a rejection of traditional liberalism and conservatism, which were both tied to social classes. In general, its an interesting topic. On one hand, the theories behind communism and fascism lie on opposite sides of the spectrum; in one, the people possess all the power and all the resources, and in the other the people possess nothing. However, on the other hand, both attempt to unite a nation and incite radical changes.
Reply
Bella
8/5/2017 07:24:32 pm
Although seemingly on opposite sides of the political spectrum, Communism and Fascism are actually quite close in practice. Karl Marx believed that one day, the working class would become so frustrated with working for the rich that they would rise up and overthrow the system. This would then lead to a utopia in which man would return to the unselfish state of producing and consuming for each other. This is the basis of Communism. In theory, everyone would own everything and the government would be dissolved. Fascism, on the other hand, is theoretically just the opposite. It consists of a very strong central government which owns everything and controls every aspect of the nation when possible. Both Communism and Fascism became popular in the early twentieth century in Europe. Communism took the Soviet Union and Fascism ruled Italy and Germany. Though the two ideologies fueded, they were very similar. In order to make Communism work in a large nation with people who were against it, the government was forced to become large and controlling and take over all industries. This led to a dictatorship, just like in Fascism. Though both totalitarian in reality, Communism was much more persistent and remains in practice today in some nations. Rarely is the word "Fascism" used, as it is associated with the horrors of World War II. Unfortunately, totalitarianism is able to continue to work in several nations, though legitimate Marxism cannot be achieved in large groups like countries, rather it can truly only be applied in small groups where all members of a society are willing to participate.
Reply
Ciana Perez
8/5/2017 07:42:38 pm
1st video: Prior to WWI, political ideology was divided by liberal and conservative ideals. The newer industrial elites (liberals) believed in economic and personal freedoms, a weaker government, and science. The older aristocratic elites (conservatives) trusted tradition, order, and a strong government. Both communism and fascism gained much popularity after WWI, although claiming to reject these ideologies, they are somewhat built from them. The idea originated from Karl Marx, who envisioned a true communist world. Marx saw that society started through hunters and gatherers, who worked for all to be equal, but new social classes soon developed and revolutions would throw out the old ones. This lead to the capitalism era in the 1840s, with a class struggle between bourgeoisie (middle-class) and proletariat (the workers). Written in his manifesto, Marx foreshadowed a revolution of the proletariats who would come together and unite to create a fascist state. His idea picked up momentum after 1848, when both Lenin and Mao adapted their own versions of Marxism, including liberal ideas of a revolution lead by educated men and leaders then encouraging nationalist feelings (conservative idea). Fascism's main founder was Benito Mussolini, leader of fascist revolution in Italy, he supported tradition and strong government (conservative) and industrialization (liberal). Yet he also, rejected these same ideologies with a government-controlled industry and disapproved of conservative monarchies. With the cost of fascism being less individual freedoms and oppression of minorities, fascism spread throughout Europe after the 1920s.
Reply
Lester
8/5/2017 07:45:01 pm
Communism which was created by Karl Marx, was made in order for everyone to be equal in the community, after he personally being fed with being poorly treated in the workplace. It never really could work out though in the long run do to how reward driven people are. No one really wanted to receive the same as someone else if they in turn worked harder. Fascism which was founded by Benito Mussolini was created to to restore Italy back to prosperity and strength after WW1. Fascism references to the beliefs of conservatism, they tend to believe in having a strong government and believing in religion. They also take characteristic of Liberalism as they believed industrialization and expansion. The faults i\with racism however is that the people have little freedom. Fascism has taken in Spain, Eastern Europe, Nazi Germany, and South America.
Reply
Cassidy Wardrop
8/5/2017 07:48:42 pm
Communism and Fascism are political ideologies that both gained traction in the aftermath of WW1. Before WW1 there were two main ideological groups- liberals and conservatives. Liberals preferred a weaker government, more economic freedom, and enlightened/scientific explanations over traditional one while conservatives wanted a stronger government with better safety and order. Communism and Fascism both claim to reject these ideologies. Communism, developed by Karl Marx, was essentially a theory that suggested the true power was in the hands of the lower class workers rather than the bourgeoisie. Lenin and Mao adapted their own versions of this. They believed that the revolution could be lead by educated leaders rather than just a majority worker class. Fascism was a combination of liberal and conservative ideologies that believed in traditional ideas such as religion and gender roles, along with a strong central government with authoritarian control, but also supported industrial development and expansion. Super nationalism, militarism, and expansionism are all at the heart of Fascism. It does however had a totalitarian government leading to censorship and oppression. It was from Mussolini's ideas that Hitler developed the Nazi party.
Reply
Sungmin Cho
8/5/2017 07:59:38 pm
First Video: The video discusses the ideals of both Communism in Theory (Marxism) and Fascism. The belief in marxism was that people were first hunter gatherers with intermediate steps leading to communism. The intermediate steps involved were class struggles during the time of the creation of the theory. Marx believed through an uprising of the proletariat against the new liberal elite, the bourgeoisie.
Reply
Hauke Dell
8/5/2017 08:04:44 pm
Before WW1, there were two main schools of thought: the liberals and conservatives. These two parties share some similarities with today's. The liberals wanted smaller central government and economic freedoms. Conservatives wanted stronger central government. Communism grew mainly from the German philosopher Kar Marx who believed that the government should be weak and interested in the welfare of its citizens. He wanted equality for all citizens and that the proletariat would rise up and overthrow the bourgeoisie. The plan for the revolution was that it would be for and by the masses but under the direction of the educated. This would then topple the government and lead to socialism then eventually communism. The issue is that in practice it became more totalitarian similar to fascism. Unlike communism, fascism is where the government has totalitarian rule and control citizens through fear and power. Examples of fascist governments were Italy and Germany during WW2, and they believed it would return them to power at the cost of oppression and censorship. After WW1, President Wilson wanted to form a League of Nations to prevent another such tragedy. However, in Russia, the country was in turmoil with thousands dying due to famine, disease, and power struggles. There were other issues brewing with Hitler rising to prominence after his failed Beer Hall Putsch as well as his Book Mein Kampf
Reply
Aubrey Turner
8/5/2017 08:16:58 pm
First video: before world war 1 there was two sides to the political spectrum, the new industrial elites aka the liberals, and the old aristocratic elites aka the conservatives. After World War 1, both Communism and Fascism gained popularity. Both Communism and Fascism rejected the ideas of liberals and conservatives. Communism was developed under Karl Marx who argued that the social system in the 1840's was capitalism. Capitalism was the class struggle between the bourgeoisie (the middle class), and the Proletariat (the working class). Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong adapted Marxism. Fascism was developed under Benito Mussolini who claimed Fascism could restore prosperity and strength in Italy. Fascism was a mix between ideas from the liberals and conservatives. The most important concept of Fascism is the "union of the people and the state". Adolf Hitler adopted Mussolini's ideas of Fascism to create Nazi Germany.
Reply
Justin Jones
8/5/2017 08:37:51 pm
Karl Marx developed the idea of Communism and he thought of it as the final, perfect form of government. He predicted that the Proletariat was destined to revolt against the Bourgeois. China and Russia eventually adopted Karl Marx's communism in their own views and implemented it into their governments. Russia assumed the Farmers would take the place of the working class and revolt, ushering in communism. Fascists was a blend of Liberal and Conservative ideals, that it would have a Strong Government but did not disown science. However, under Fascism the people had much less freedom with a totalitarian government.
Reply
Elizabeth Akindele
8/5/2017 09:00:18 pm
Many people when discussing Communism and Fascism have placed them in the same category as being similar to each other, but in actuality Communism and Fascism are totally different. When thinking of Communism and Fascism people should place Racism on the right and Communism on the left. Unlike Fascism, communism is all about not having a leader or classes. and that everything will be shared between everyone and everything can be equal. On the other hand, the fascist theory had a little of liberalism and conservatism. Fascism supported industrial development and strong government.
Reply
Richard Agee
8/5/2017 09:00:57 pm
#1: Communism and Fascism came into relevance after WWI, each pulling elements from both traditional liberalism and conservatism. Karl Marx introduced communism, and most modern interpretations in government are perversions of his original ideas. He argued that capitalism pitted the bourgeoise against the proletariat, and was disappointed when some revolutions failed to remedy this. Mao and Lenin adapted his communism in unique ways for their revolutions. Their revolutions were led by educated leaders who would keep power in setting up a new government. Mussolini helped introduce fascism. He pushed for a strong government, strong traditions, and industrial expansion. In his fascism, freedom suffered.
Reply
Sadie Harmon
8/7/2017 04:34:22 am
While communism and fascism are on differing ends of the political spectrum, it is Davis sting as to how both rose to power in European countries after the carnage of WW1. With the United States intent on practicing isolationism and refusing to join the League of Nations, radical political parties were able to take over countries, like Russia, that were ravaged by famine, disease, and war. This was also beginning to set up tensions which would lead to WW2 and the Cold War.
Reply
Hunter
8/7/2017 02:20:46 pm
(video 1) The political ideology of communism was originally created by Karl Marx, and it considered that communism as the end of social development where people worked for the benefit of everyone else with no one above anyone else. Communism in theory is highly liberal as everyone in the society; however, in practice, it, like fascism is very conservative. Benito Mussolini was a primary founder of fascism. Fascism is highly conservative in many social aspects such as tradition al roles and a strong government, yet it also supports a liberal view on industrialization and expansion. One of the most important ideas of fascism is that is the union of the people in the state with an almost pre-requisite of super-nationalism. Fascism in practice substantially reduces personal freedom, it has significant censorship, and due to the prerequisite of super-nationalism a large amount of oppression for political dissidents and minorities.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Mr. LynchIB 20th Century Categories |