DBWI: Fascism outside of Italy

Fascism is generally regarded as a uniquely Italian political phenomenon. An eclectic mish-mash of the left and the right, radicalism and conservatism, populism and technocracy, futurist modernism and Catholic traditionalism. Even thirty years after the restoration of democracy the legacy of Fascism is still felt in the Kingdom and the former Italian colonies.

Whilst there were many who took inspiration from the Italian experiment, Fascism as a distinct political movement never really took off as a political force outside of Italy.

Could Fascism have ever been a stronger influence in the wider world and what would it look like? Or is Fascism just something so embedded into Italian society that it can't be transposed to other cultures?
 
Maybe if the political clique surrounding Roosevelt had come to power in the USA. On the conservative side, they had strong connections with traditionalist Catholicism AND southern agrarianism. And on the avant-garde end of things, many of the artists drawn to the movement, if only from a distance, worked in that constructivist/futurist style.

Also, somewhat ominously, Roosevelt apparently had some plan to put people to work in camps and whatnot, ostensibly as economic relief.
 

samcster94

Banned
Well, it'd have to be called something else, as nobody else wants to bring back the Roman Empire, even those who speak Romance languages. Germany's DNVP, which came to power in 1930, was too monarchist and more concerned about bringing the Kaiser back to count.
 
I remember one WI that suggested Fascism springing up in Germany. Which I found hard to believe... Fascism by its very nature is innovatory, revolutionary even...not something that the clique of Generals who took power in Germany would hold any truck with. I mean, I know Chancellor Goering flirted with fringe politics at one point but he settled into being the monarchist poster boy quickly.

Mind you: they did lead the country well in the Communist War. Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Japan in the East...Old enemies united against the Red Menace.
 
Could Fascism have ever been a stronger influence in the wider world and what would it look like? Or is Fascism just something so embedded into Italian society that it can't be transposed to other cultures?

Fascism could work in many cultures- particularly those with few democratic aspirations. Rather, I think its main draw back would be that Italy, its main proponent, was not only on the losing side of WWII, but lost well.... rather badly.

Therefore, Spain might be the best exporter of facisism. Spanish fascists would seem to have alot of PR going for them. They won their civil war (granted with outside help), were not occupied by the allies after WWII, and having sent effective troops to the eastern front, were more associated with German military prowess than Italian blunders.

Any exporting would have to wait until the British and French colonial empires dissolved. I think the most fertile ground would be the middle east with moderate Islam substituted for traditional Catholicism. Historically, Lebanon's Phlangist movement was considered to be fascist. Likewise, Nassar's Egypt and early Baathist Syria and Iraq all had fascist spins that mixed nationalism with state heavy economic ideas.

Maybe Spain's position post WWII is strengthened a little? The leaders of the emerging middle east don't want democracies, nor socialist republics. Spain seems like a good role model. Then factor in that Spain was also a religious based society, had honor culture influences, and had never been a major colonial player and middle eastern delegations may have beaten a path to Madrid for inspiration or "inspiration".
 
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