Both continental neoclassical traditions embraced fascism for one very clearly articulated reason: it appeared to provide a defence against the communist aim of the "abolition" of private property. This hope co-existed with fear of the "proletariat" and democratically-imposed taxation. (Similar sentiments underpinned attempts in Arkansas in 1957 and Alabama in 1962 to deny access to tax-funded human capital formation to those whose ascribed status was revealed by skin colour).
In contrast, the British neoclassical tradition embraced taxes and subsidies as remedies for market failure. In addition, by the time of Mussolini's march on Rome and Hitler's beer hall putsch, British leaders of the "proletariat" (the perceived "cream of the working class") had very largely embraced parliamentary democracy. The 1926 General Strike was marked by impromptu soccer games between strikers and representatives of the State.
Fascism flourished in countries which had been united as "Kingdoms" through war only six decades before. Romantic imperialists like Churchill - whose policies caused the General Strike - saw merits in fascism (in the 1920s, he also recommended the use of poison gas against Iraqis). But apart from a few romantics like Edward VIII and Oswald Mosley, the constituency was small. Did any British economist express sympathy for fascism (this is a genuine not a rhetorical question)?
RL
Well, every fascist leader has personal goals.
Samuel Bostaph, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Economics
University of Dallas
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened."--Winston Churchill
--- On Fri, 7/20/12, Alan G Isaac <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Alan G Isaac <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [SHOE] allusion to Pareto
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, July 20, 2012, 9:26 AM
On 7/20/2012 9:58 AM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Mussolini, before taking power in Italy, was a noted Socialist theoretician. Fascism was a means of introducing Socialism gradually
So let's see ... Fascism was really a movement of the progressive left?
And National Socialism, by gosh, it really was Socialism!
That clears everything up! No wonder it was so progressive
about labor unions, homosexuality, free thinking, race, and ethnicity ...
Alan Isaac
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