Submitted by Stolenfromreddit in Fascism

The term "Red Fascist" was coined by the anarchist Voline, himself a refugee from the Bolshevik regime, after receiving a letter from an Italian comrade in the USSR that declared:

“(...) They’re locking us all up, one by one. Real revolutionaries may not enjoy freedom in Russia. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech have been wiped out, so there is no difference between Stalin and Mussolini.

This didn't come out of nowhere, Mussolini himself defined fascism as "Everything in the state, nothing against the State, nothing outside the state." So any totalitarian system naturally invited comparison to fascism.

Umberto Eco's definition of fascism is, I think, the most comprehensive, so I'll go through the characteristics he defined and see how they can relate to Bolshevism:

  1. "The Cult of Tradition", characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by Tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.

The Immortal Science of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism^(TM) and the fetishization of a line of great thinkers is characteristic of traditionalism. Everything except the party line as told by the great men is rejected, cast out and suppressed.

  1. "The Rejection of modernism", which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.

Though Marxist-Leninist regimes laud their advances in industrialization, it comes with a rejection of "bourgeois decadence". Marxism-Leninism also has a tendency towards Orientalism, a common characteristic of white supremacy, and fetishize the mere act of being anti-western.

  1. "The Cult of Action for Action's Sake", which dictates that action is of value in itself, and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.

This can be seen with the trope of touting Marxist-Leninist regimes as "actually existing socialism". They exist, therefore they should always be defended, often uncritically.

  1. "Disagreement Is Treason" – Fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.

I shouldn't have to go much into this one. Marxist-Leninist regimes construct one party states where there is often little-to-no freedom of speech. Any disagreement with the party line is seen as treasonous, and attacked with ferocity. When people call Marxist-Leninists "tankies" and "red fascists", this is usually where it stems from, the ML intolerance of dissent.

  1. "Fear of Difference", which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.

Institutional racism is incredibly common in Marxist-Leninist regimes, sometimes even ending in genocide. The Soviet famine of 1932-33, whether you think it was intentional or not, was a key example of this. The famine by-and-large affected the conquered territories of the former Russian empire - territories that largely consisted of ethnic minorities; Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Volga, Kazakhstan and Siberia. It killed millions. This was followed by the NKVD's Latvian and Polish Operations, as well as the genocide of Vainakh peoples and the deportation of Tatars from Crimea (two territories where Russian imperialism continues to this day). The USSR was also incredibly antisemitic (and to so the authoritarian left of today has a problem with antisemitism is an understatement).

One could also point to the PRC's ongoing colonialism in Uyghuristan, Inner Mongolia and Tibet, as well as the infamous Cambodian genocide.

  1. "Appeal to a Frustrated Middle Class", fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.

This one might seem like a deviation from Marxism-Leninism, but appealing to the middle-class in the face of more radical social change is an incredibly common tactic in Marxist-Leninist regimes. Lenin instituted a Taylorist system, with factory bosses, while Trotsky brought old imperialist officers into the Red Army, suppressing worker and soldier democracy respectively. Class collaborationism was also seen in the PRC, culminating in Dengism, when the age of billionaire communists began.

  1. "Obsession with a Plot" and the hyping-up of an enemy threat. This often combines an appeal to xenophobia with a fear of disloyalty and sabotage from marginalized groups living within the society (such as the German elite's 'fear' of the 1930s Jewish populace's businesses and well-doings; see also anti-Semitism).

Antisemitism and antisemitic conspiracy theories are rife in the authoritarian left. This was most obviously demonstrated during the Doctors Plot, in which many of the USSR's Jewish doctors were rounded up or killed, all because Stalin became convinced there was a secret Jewish conspiracy against him.

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