Date: Sat, 1 Nov 1997 11:11:42 -0500
Subject: Re: Who wields the fasces?


>Saul,
>
>Yes, Hitler's appeal is relevant. Because it involves looking at
>something concrete, his speeches and writing, and relating it to
>the response of Germans, and German social structure. This is
>fundementally different than abstract ideas alone. It makes
>for MEANINGFUL, rather than meaningless disputation. In the realm
>of ideas alone, there is no check on flights of fancy.
>
>Tom

And what about the role that aesthetics  played in the effect of Hitler's
speeches  ie. his delivery and the Nazi's use of technology -- might not
Goebbels, Roehm, Rosenberg, Hess et al  had a greater  role in the
formulation and implemantation of Fascist policy and ideology  than Hitler
who seemed to play the role of the front man.  Might we not have to study
the representation of Hitler,

 And what about Fascism's appeal to non-German's the English, French,
Bulgarians, Roumanians, Austrians as well as its appeal in the States to
Catholics.
In continuing to focus on Hitler we continue to creat the illusion that
Fascism was in some manner the product of an evil genius, rather than
arising from  material conditions and that it corresponds to a mass
subjectivity that has specific qualities and that the National Socialist
Party, the Peronist, Gaullist, etc focused and exploited,. See my note to
gilligan concerning the role that romanticism and subjectivity play in the
formation of Fascist ideology and practice.  Despite a long standing
liberal denial Fascism is an ideology complete with world view, social  and
political structure   .