First Advisor
Joseph Bohling
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Department
History
Language
English
Subjects
Totalitarianism — Economic aspects, Political parties — Europe — History — 20th century
Abstract
One of the ambiguities within the study of fascism and political history in the 20th century is defining, in logical terms, the development of a coherent fascist economic identity. Three fascist governments will be examined in this project, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Vichy France, with the goal of understanding if there is indeed a distinction on their exertion of economic power as opposed to other ideological systems that could aid outlining fascism not merely as a political or philosophical doctrine, but perhaps also an economic one.
This study examines the political background prior to the formation of the three political movements that mounted the subsequent fascist administration in their respective countries. Where, behind their initiatives upon taking power, there may exist continuity in their pre-movement phase leading to their rhetoric prior to being invited to take power, besides their following administration. Notwithstanding, contradictory behaviors occurred in their immediate social and economic revision of the state that gave rise to the paradoxes and loopholes that make a logical foundation/understanding of fascist economics dubious. This study suggests that economic management of fascist regimes became organized towards the advancement of social and political goals of the party. Furthermore, a higher and singular purpose became both fundamental and detrimental to fascist political establishments: the subsistence of their parties by any means conceivable.
Upon the fall of fascism in Europe after World War II, this research project concludes by examining the rise of Christian Democracy yet another “third way” movement through the progression and legacy of fascist/non-fascist attitudes that led to European integration and distancing Europe from ultra-nationalist/radical tendencies in addition to the scale of violence of its previous period.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44162
Recommended Citation
Pérez Catalán, Vicente, "The Fascist Economic Paradox: Countering and Co-Opting Capitalism and Socialism in Interwar Europe" (2025). History Undergraduate Departmental Honors Theses. 2.
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/his_theseshonors/2
Comments
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Arts with Honors in History.