The Political perspectives that have existed in the
world since the creation of the organized society suffer changes
and are therefore modified with the contribution of each
generation.
Our ability to have a broaden outlook of the ideologies
that give enrichment to society is directly proportional to the
understanding of those political perspectives that have
contributed the most with the history of humankind.
Conservatism, as the most direct justification of a modernized
and developed State can be contrasted with theories of Fascism,
Nazism, and Neo-fascism which, in spite of being outlawed in some
of their forms, have earned the trust and fellowship of many
people around the world.
These ideologies establish the two ends of the same line,
meaning that most other theories encountered in the political
scheme of the world today, can be located somewhere along this
ratio based on their concepts of society, economic advantage, and
the use of power.
As a first summary of Conservatism, those who believe in this
theory with a more classical perspective, express the strictest
form of anti-liberalism towards the concept of human nature.
They see society as a living organism that must follow the
leadership of those people who retain the highest economic value
of the State, therefore being this their form of democratic
ideal.
The other members of society should focus their efforts on
constantly being productive in benefit of their society, and
remain loyal to the decisions taken by the stakeholders who act
in the name of the nation. Classical Conservative theory is
compatible with fascism on the form in which both place
restrictions on the level of liberty that a person should
have.
According to fascism, the majority can not direct human
society and therefore we should all concede our power of
self-determination to the State who will act in the name and for
the benefit of the whole.
Only those who lead the State are truly capable of
understanding the great effort that our ancestors have put into
shaping our democracy and should then do all that is in their
hands to keep our national traditions from changing due to
foreign contributions.
As it is supported in Nazism, anyone with a leftist or
communist outlook who wishes to challenge the internal
characteristics that define our form of government should not be
allowed to enjoy the benefits our politics.
If we could place the different forms of Conservatism along a
line, we could then conclude that Classical Conservatism is the
most rightist form of this ideology and can then be traced in
some areas to theories of Neo-fascism, Nazism and Fascism.
Another form of Conservatism expressed by followers of Modern
Conservatism shows that some of the characteristics exemplified
in more classical perspectives can be bent and adapted to our
changing world. Such is the contrast that can be established with
this theory and Nazism’s rejection of liberalist
theory.
According to author Burke, the form in which Liberalism is
expressed within the context of Modern Conservatives has to do
with the various roles placed on the individual. Even though this
form of Conservatism accepts liberalism and communal togetherness
in order to reach self-actualization, it still encourages the
importance that individualism has in a society. Individualism
leads to competition among all and this makes us constantly
strive for higher challenges therefore improving our race. This
is where Nazism comes into place.
According to this ideology, all peoples of the same language
should be joined together according not simply to this essential
similarity, but also considering the cultural values that have
kept this civilization together.
This will strengthen the innate characteristics of a superior
ethnic group and, with a strong sense of Nationalism, will then
conserve (as in conservatism) the benefits of being Aryan.
The democratization within Modern Conservatives is based on
the ideal of the structural inclusion of the mass in the sense of
increasing competition among each other to discover new abilities
in individuals. Popular participation would be assured in this
process.
This will then allow for the appropriate selection of those
stakeholders who can make the decisions more accurately in the
name of the whole while conserving the unlimited accumulation of
knowledge and nationalism that, according to Nazism, can only be
carried on through the conservation of races in the inheritance
process.
In search of a theory that would portray Conservatism with a
more leftist and updated perspective, we find the ideology
expressed by Neoconservatives.
Even tough this term retains similarities in relation to
Classical Conservatives and Modern Conservatives, it sublimely
shows how a controlling State that does not allow for the free
economic independence of the economy but instead believes in
controlling the market, is bound to a critique of modern
capitalism derived from the free exchange of goods among
States.
Neoconservatives as well as Neo-fascists are an
exemplification of ideologies that were popular in past decades
and are constantly suffering a rebirth where the main idea is
kept while adapting their application to the world today.
Neo-fascists as well as Neoconservatives share a very
nationalistic perspective of their own cultures which is
undoubtedly more developed than any other. Neoconservatives blame
the problem of their States on adversary cultures that have taken
advantage of them in the past. Neo-fascists believe that the
problems of their Nations are the fault of non-European
immigrants.
This, as an adaptation from Fascism, has changed from people
of Jewish religion during the World War period, to simply any
non-European citizen who makes a living in any European country
at the expense of the resources and capabilities of the
aboriginal people from this continent.
The Democratic Ideal of these similar perspectives exposes the
necessity of maintaining extreme nationalism in order to keep
peoples united and this will then lead, as it happens in
Classical Conservatism, to the election of leaders based on their
role as stakeholders.
Once the leader has governmental control, he
should allow for the market to challenge modern capitalism
through the fomentation of a sustainable and efficient economy
that can successfully compete with other States around the globe
and attain an advantage over them.
Popular participation is a very essential subject that makes
political ideologies even more interesting. The manner in which
an ideology is capable of convincing people of its beliefs will
directly influence the popularity and mobilization power of the
theory.
A force that showed a true concern on this matter and was
capable of gaining great advantage due to these factors is
Fascism. Leaders of this ideology saw democracy as a goal based
on the constant military empowerment of
the State.
For as long as there was military conflict people would be
interested in the politics of the nation and at the same time new
leaders will arise due to their heroism in the battlefield.
According to Benito Mussolini, a prolonged peace does not
bring any utility. War brings the best people of a Nation
together and allows them to show their courage and belief in
their country.
Democracy in Fascism can not be determined by the majority
simply because they do not have the coordination to direct human
society.
Because Nations are not influenced by economic means, it is
therefore war what will determine the efficiency or the coming of
new leaders who will keep absolute power of the State.
In continuation, Fascism must remain militarily belligerent in
order to expand National territories and show the vitality of
this form of government.
The success of this goal summarizes the reason why the leader
was chosen through this form of popular participation
In conclusion, it is important to have a clear understanding
on the similarities and variations that Conservative ideas show
in immanence to Fascism, Nazism and Neo-Fascism.
The perspective that we obtain by looking in depth to the
variations of these ideologies allows us to create bonds that
lace together some of these theories making these studies more
fruitful.
After having located these ideologies along a line with Nazism
on one end and Neo-conservatism on the other, ideologies such as
Fascism, Neo-fascism, Classical Conservatism and Modern
Conservatism can more easily be seen as similar theories that
suffer variations along the same line.
This essay is not supposed to judge the accuracy or misleading
power of these or any other doctrines, therefore, we could
summarize it as a tool to sensitize and respect the rights and
wrongs of Political Ideologies.
Bibliography
▪ Ball, Terence; Dagger, Richard.
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal
5th edition.
New York: Pearson Education, 2004.
▪ Ball, Terence; Dagger, Richard. (Burke)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal
5th edition.
New York: Pearson Education, 2004.
▪ Ball, Terence; Dagger Richard.
Ideals and Ideologies Reader 5th edition.
New York: Pearson Education, 2004.
Fabio Fermi
January12th 2005