FASCISM
I.—THE ORIGIN AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
OF FASCISM
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THERE are many impudent arguments that have been used in support of Fascism, and the capitalist press has exercised its utmost skill in representing Mussolini as the saviour of Italian civilisation and the embodiment of almost all the political virtues. It is not surprising, therefore, that the claim has even been advanced that the Fascists are not
an anti-Labour force. Mussolini himself constantly poses as the friend of the working classes, as the apostle of ordered freedom and proletarian well-being. Thus, speaking at Milan on 6th December, 1922, he made great play with the fact that he was of working-class origin (his father was a blacksmith). "The Government," he went on, "… is not, cannot and does not wish to be anti-proletarian. The workmen are a vital part of the nation … it is a Government that wishes to a<5t in the interests of the working classes, interests which will always be recognised when they are just," that is, of course, when they do not seriously threaten those of the capitalists.
This sort of thing is a demagogic device and is not to be taken seriously. But many interpreters and apologists of Fascism equally claim that the movement is "above class," is nation-wide in its policy, and is specifically not anti-labour. The voluble Mr. Odon Por even makes the fantastic suggestion that Fascism is leading to the establishment of a kind of Guild Socialism in Italy.
It is true that Mr. Por's conception of Guild Socialism is a muddled sort of thing and does not imply a complete expropriation of the capitalists; nevertheless, even Mr. Por anticipates in his ideal society a large measure of workers' control over the conditions of industry and a definite increase in the freedom, dignity and Standard of living of the proletariat. To expect any of these things to result from the
