The argument that ideas don't matter has of course been offered forever in some quarters. I've always found it to be a bizarre way to look at the world and wholly unconvincing if history is any guide.
At any rate, with regard to the idea that there is no ideological bent to fascism because it relies simply on a leader figure (who can ostensibly believe anything), I would ask two things:
1) Do you suppose that it's simply coincidence that all of the fascist leaders (including in the USA, Britain, France, etc.) all promoted essentially the same sort of corporatist idea with lavish state spending and control?
2) Do you suppose it's simply coincidence that all of the fascist leaders came from heavily socialist backgrounds?
The idea that a "Fascist" leader could potentially be some sort of small government, libertine figure atop a cult-of-personality system doesn't pass the smell test to me...
Sunday assorted links
1 hour ago
I should note that my comments about "ideas not mattering" isn't made as a sort of dispositive response to your point.
ReplyDeleteI'm acknowledging that we'll never come to terms on that, and as such am not belaboring the point by arguing it.