FASCISM

Fascism is defined as a form of government headed by a dictator, in which government has a total control over all activities in the state, and personal liberties are denied the people, e.g. Italy under Benito Mussolini.

Features of Fascism

1. Supremacy of the leader: He has all powers of the state: legislative, judicial, and executive powers.
2. Autocratic tendency: The government has total control over all aspects of citizen’s life, e.g. education, religion, etc.
3. Limited political participation: It is limited to the few elite group. The ordinary man on the street is not allowed to participate in decision – making.
4. Repression of political opposition: No political opposition is allowed or tolerated.
5. Superiority of the state: The state is superior to individuals; infact, the individual can be killed in the pursuance of the goals of the state.
6. The use of propaganda: Government owns and controls the mass media as a means of propaganda.
7. Imperialistic tendency: This is in form of territorial expansion and domination of other nations politically and economically.
8. Refusal to submit to international conventions: States operating fascism are not always ready to subject itself to international laws and conventions.
9. The state economy is highly centralised: Factors of production and means of distribution are concentrated in the hands of the government.