Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990206101626.007f0b90@rongenet.sk.ca>
Date: Sat, 06 Feb 1999 10:16:26 -0600
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk, memetics@mmu.ac.uk
From: Lloyd Robertson <hawkeye@rongenet.sk.ca>
Subject: re: Godwin's Law
In-Reply-To: <19990204075148.13953.qmail@www0s.netaddress.usa.net>
There is a rather convincing argument that fascism is not an ideology at
all. It is an authoritarian movement that grew out of common but often
conflicting strands of political, economic and religious thought in pre-war
Europe. As such, it evolved very rapidly and adapted to local conditions. A
fascinating book by Goldhagen ("Hitler's Willing Executioners") shows how
Nazism was compatible with existing German culture. The evolution of
fascism within national cultures would be a fascinating study for
historical memetics (if there was such a discipline).
I find the arguments of those who contend that fascism was anti-capitalist
and/or anti-christian fascinating not because of the arguments themselves
but because of what they tell me of the "faith" of the ones making the
arguments. Fascism, which was often seen in a positive light in "the West"
prior to WWII ("bullwark against Communism" and all that) has now become a
pariah meme with any group that had any pre-war connection with the
fascists scurrying to "prove" it wasn't so. Surely this is a corollary to
"Godwin's Law".
Lloyd
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