Communism vs. Fascism

What were the most important similarities and differences between communism and fascism?

A radical change to the system of a state’s government often precedes a dramatic or nationalistic uprising. This is strongly emphasized in Marxism where it argues that class conflict is culminated by a social revolution, followed by the creation of a communist state. The events leading up to V.I. Lenin’s ascension toppled the tsar autocracy in Russia and created the Russian Republic (USSR), which operated on strict communist principles. On the other hand, the fascist leader of the Nazi Party, Adolf Hitler, was inaugurated democratically through the votes of nationalistic citizens, but little did they know that he would put an end to the representative democracy which the Weimar Republic ran on, and transform Germany into a totalitarian state. Both fascism and communism arose from the devastation of World War I, and these ideologies challenged the widespread, contemporary democracy of the West by depriving people of the power to govern themselves. The most important similarities between communism and fascism were their autocratic control over the economy, and their oppressive nature towards oppositions, whereas the most notable differences were the management of private property, and the presence of a class hierarchy.

Communism and fascism were considerably similar in various aspects, one of which was their domineering grip over the national economy. Communism abolished private ownership and called for all property to be held in common under the community or state, rejecting capitalism and free markets. Furthermore, the government exclusively coordinated resource distribution, investment, and production for the entire state; their production was organized by human needs rather than profit. This prevented citizens from running privately owned businesses, thus, having no say in the economy. In the Soviet Union under Lenin’s rule, grains were seized from peasants and allocated to the military and citizens in the city. It can indeed be counter argued that private ownership was not banned in fascism, which proves that the argument is an invalid comparison of similarity and would instead be a reasonable difference; however, as with communism, private ownership was heavily directed by the state in fascist nations, and the means of production were strictly controlled by the government. For example, in 1933 fascist Nazi Germany, the aviation company Junkers Aircraft Works was seized from the owner Hugo Junkers shortly after he was arrested and expropriated to the state, giving the Nazis exclusive control over aircraft production. Another similarity between communism and fascism was their extreme use of oppression against all oppositions to the state or any individual that rejected their ideology. Considering that all members of the state are equal in communism, theoretically, there shouldn’t be any state control, oppression or discrimination, thus counter arguing this argument; however, in reality, many communist countries utilized oppression and “secret police” forces to silence adversaries of the state. The Bolsheviks of the Russian Republic created a secret police force known as the Cheka with the aim of crushing all state oppositions, they spread fear among all class members -- the bourgeoisie in particular -- and executed all oppositions. Similarly in present-day communist China, democratic protests are known to be immediately silenced by the government, and activists that speak against the state’s ideology are always arrested and are oftentimes sentenced to life imprisonment. Alike with communism, fascism exercised direct force over state oppositions. Fascism was a highly nationalistic ideology, and any culture that was not approved by the German Nzais was considered to be inferior and against the state. The racial policies of the German regime saw Jews as enemies of the state, and so millions of Jews and other minorities were imprisoned and executed in Nazi concentration camps. German authorities also strove to destroy the national identity of Poland and Polish culture, where around 2.7 million Poles were killed by the Nazis.

One marked difference between fascism and communism was how the government managed private ownership. In communism, private ownership over capital goods were completely abolished; the government employed laborers, and the collective output were allocated equally. All means of production were owned commonly and no property is owned by any individual. In the Russian Republic, Lenin turned over the control of factories over to committees of workers, and distributed land equally to peasants, removing private ownership and control over all assets. On the other hand, private ownership was allowed in fascist states under the condition that it was directed by state authorities and were utilized in the best interest of the state. In Nazi Germany under Hitler’s rule, the union between corporations and the state was highly favoured; in anticipation for widespread car ownership in Germany, as Hitler announced at the Berlin Motor Show of 1933, the government would finance the corporation Mercedes-Benz to help achieve this goal. Another difference between fascism and communism was the presence of class distinction. Communism eliminated all class distinction and considered all member of the state equal. Fascism, however, was highly discriminatory and implemented a rigid social hierarchy. In Nazi Germany, the superior race was the Nazis, and other ethnicities including Jews and Poles, mentally ill, handicapped or homosexuals were considered inferior. Traditional gender roles were practiced and women were highly discouraged from pursuing careers or seeking greater education.

Despite the animosity between the two, communism and fascism were very similar in terms of how the government controlled the economy and the people; both utilized oppression and violence to a certain extent to achieve their means. However, communism favored absolute equality and the absence of private ownership, while fascism acknowledged a class hierarchy, where a “master race” is led by one superior dictator, and permitted private ownership that was contingent upon the state’s directions. Both communism and fascism revolved around the notion that the common people aren’t reliable or rational enough to rule themselves, which is why they are contradictory to democracy.

Members of the Cheka Secret Police in Russia under Lenin

Nazi Concentration camp for Jews and other discriminated people