Often these terms are used so interchangeably, however, they are not truly interchangeable. Each is these -ists and -isms have distinct, although often overlapping, meanings.
I have always felt that when you want to throw a label at someone else, if you don't really know what it means, then it shows the accuser's ignorance more than it reveals about the accused. So, let's jump into this.
NAZI
NAZI is an acronym. Translated from the original German it means National Socialist German Workers' Party or in German "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterparte" (Gunner, 2021). The term NAZI and fascist are often used interchangeably. This is because the NAZI party was both socialist and fascist, as well as nationalist.
Socialist
Socialism is commonly used interchangeably with communism. According to ThoughtCo, "The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically-elected government." (Longley, 2024). In both of these -isms, the government is authoritarian and controlling everything. The primary distinction is the socialists let people "own" private property, but they still must use it only as the state dictates, and the state can revoke ownership at anytime. To me, this seems to be a mere pretense of private property ownership.
The ThoughtCo article cited above (Longley, 2024) notes that socialism includes the notion that people receive according to their contribution, rather than simply according to their need. In that regard, socialism is less altruistic in its implementation.
Communist
In contrast, communism doesn't pretend that individuals own anything. Everything is owned by the state and administered by the oligarchs and the bureaucracy according to what they believe is in the best interests of the people, without regard to the opinions, feelings, or actual needs of those same people.
For me, socialism and communism are, in their effects, identical and interchangeable. Although, for years I have labored under the notion that communism was expressly aimed at forcibly imposing these principles on the entire in an egalitarian manner, not favoring one nation or ethnicity over another. Socialism, I was taught, was a bit more nationalistic in scope, which is consistent with the notions of Aryan supremacy that seems inextricably linked with Nazism.
Fascist
Fascism is an authoritarian approach to governing which, although it allows personal property, the government maintains a shallow form of capitalism. They coopt businesses (personally owned enterprises) into arms of the government to carry out the regulations and laws.
Although fascist parties and movements differed significantly from one another, they had many characteristics in common, including extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”), in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation. (Soucy, 2024)
Pulling from the citation above allows me to create a list of attributes of fascism:
- Militaristic,
- nationalistic,
- contempt for democracy,
- contempt for political liberalism,
- contempt for cultural liberalism,
- rule of the elites,
- individual interest subordinated to the good of the nation
To better understand this list requires some further elaboration and definition of these terms.
- Militarism - meaning a tendency to resort to organized violence using military and paramilitary groups to intimidate or eliminate opposition.
- Nationalism - the notion of one nation being superior to another. However, it is worth noting that the proponents of the United Nations and "one world government" are merely a different flavor of nationalism rather than being anti-nationalist.
- Contempt for democracy - Setting aside the distinctions nuances democracy, constitutionalism, and republicanism, and representative democracy leaves us with the term democracy as shorthand for respect for the sovereignty of individuals, and their deliberate acceptance of a social compact as the source of legitimate government. Contempt for democracy translates into contempt for the inalienable rights of individuals to govern themselves.
- Contempt for liberalism (political and cultural) - in this context, Britannica goes on to define liberalism as "protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual." (Minogue, 2024). Note that today's so-called "liberals" are markedly at odds with support for the freedom (AKA self-sovereignty) of the individual.
- Elitism - the rule of elites being the preferred approach of fascists of all stripes. Elites may qualify for this 'designation' either through their academic achievements, excessive wealth, political power, or celebrity.
- Subordination of individual well-being to the "good of the nation" - Doing horrific things to individuals and minorities in the interest of promoting "the greater good," was the driving force behind Hitler's genocide against the Jews and has been used by tyrants, oligarchs, and conspirators to justify terrible crimes throughout history.
Capitalist
Unlike Socialism and Communism which combine both economic and political motives and means, capitalism is purely an economic philosophy. Capitalism is non-political in its definition. However, it does rely upon certain strongly political points.
Capitalism is fundamentally based on property rights and individual sovereignty. Drawing on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations concludes that capitalism is about two parties making an exchange of goods, services, or both, absent any coercion. It is this point of coercion that brings capitalism into conflict in various degrees by communism, socialism, and fascism.
To be totally candid, the issue of coercion brings capitalism into conflict with all political regimens beyond the realm of self-governance. This is the primary point made by "card-carrying" libertarians.
Conclusion
I believe that most people bandy around these terms, hurling them at those who disagree with them, with little understanding or regard for the actual definitions of these terms. I hope that folks will take a moment and consider what each of these terms means. Then compare the meanings against the actions and words of those they want to paint with these labels. If the "shoe fits," then by all means use it. But please, stop hurling these -ists and -isms without knowing what you are talking about.
References
Gunner, Jennifer. (9 September 2021). Nazi: Meaning and Origin of the Word. Retrieved from: https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/abbreviations-nazi-meaning-origin
Longley, Robert. (5 May 2024). The Differences Between Socialism and Communism. Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-communism-and-socialism-195448
Soucy, Robert. (21 October 2024). Fascism. Britannica, retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism
Minogue, Kenneth; Girvetz, Harry K. (5 September 2024). Liberalism. Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberalism
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Tom Sheppard is a business consultant and coach to small business owners and individuals. He is a recognized author with dozens of titles in business and fiction to his credit. One of his endeavors is to help those who want to see their own book in print. He does this through his trademarked Book Whispering Process (TM).
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If you believe Government is NOT the answer to all our problems, you will want to read
Godvernment: Government as God
Godvernment: Government as God
