Origins of the Ideologies of Fascism and Communism

Our readings discuss the Second World War, a conflict between states that can also be framed as a clash of ideologies: fascism and communism. Traditionally, the 1920s and 1930s has been referred to as the “interwar period.” Globally, this terminology doesn’t quite fit since much violent activity took place throughout Eurasia. These political ideas of fascism and communism spread globally, fueling violence. Civil War broke out in Spain between fascists and communists in 1936. Within Germany’s borders, pro-communist and proto-fascist supporters clashed. These conflicts, erupting soon after the conclusion of the First World War, suggest that these ideas were not entirely new, and indeed, had been circulating for some time.
Writing Prompt
For this writing assignment, we will be thinking through the origins of the ideologies of fascism and communism. Remember, we are examining the assigned documents, not present-day perceptions of these ideas.
First, come up with separate working definitions of fascism and of communism. Do not conflate these ideologies; they are different.
If it helps, make a chart separately listing each ideology and how it was implemented. Consider how fascism and communism are different from each other in terms of ideology. Do they agree on any points? What are the priorities or values that matter in a fascist society? In a communist society?
After laying this groundwork, you should be ready to address the following question:
How would each of these philosophies, fascism and communism, ideally like to remake society? Think in terms of class, gender, race, or other categories of difference. Think of education, property, and what everyday life would be like according to the ideas presented in these documents.
Be sure to refer to the two manifestos and the visual art primary sources offered in this module.
The following primary sources are included in this module
The “Manifesto of Futurism” by the Italian poet Filippo Tommaso (F.T.) Marinetti published in 1909
The “Manifesto of Communism” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels first published in 1848, excerpt
Selections of Futurist Art
About these sources
From the MOMA, New York: “In addition to their prolific output of drawings, photographs, films, performances, and paintings and sculptures, the Futurists (1909-1944) published countless manifestos, leaflets, and art and poetry periodicals.”
The Italian Futurists were not themselves necessarily fascists, but their ideas certainly influenced proto-fascists and fascists who came after them.
The Manifesto of Communism was published in London in 1848 as the revolutions of 1848 began. It is by no means the first written work on socialism, but it has been influential, and is still widely read and discussed. Marx criticizes capitalism using terms that become the vocabulary of socialism: bourgeoisie, proletariat, surplus-value, and class struggle. For simplicity’s sake, we may use the terms communism and socialism interchangeably in this assignment.
You may refer to the written content provided by the three links to museums given in “Selections of Italian Futurist Art.” You may also consult the assigned unit videos and transcripts on the period leading up to and including the Second World War.
For this writing assignment, you will be planning a paper you will not write. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but this exercise is designed to help you focus on crafting and supporting effective argumentation.
When writing an academic essay, it helps to plan what the paper is going to say before actually writing it. This is especially true for a persuasive, argumentative, or position paper. That process, the planning stage, is something I receive many questions about each semester. This planning is what we will focus on for this assignment. Rather than producing the paper itself, you will be planning the essay, but stopping short of writing it. You will need to show your work by producing an outline that mentions what you would elaborate on if you were writing out the full paper, and why.
Here is some guidance on how to structure your outline:
The outline should be centered around an argument or thesis statement that you write yourself, based on the included prompt.
You should plan each paragraph to feature a topic sentence in support of your argument/thesis.
Each topic sentence should then be followed by bullet-points or lists including examples from the assigned text(s) that support your argumentation.
Be sure to explain why or how each of these examples supports your topic sentence. This is your analysis.
Remember to include an opening or introductory item on your outline as well as a closing or conclusion. Often, students find it easier to plan these items after the rest of the essay is outlined.
For further details on how to create an outline, refer to this information below from the GSU Writing Studio, which goes into depth on the different parts of this process. Note! The link at the end of the GSU document connecting you to the Purdue Owl is broken. I include a link to a comparable writing guide from the Owl below. Both are excellent resources for all of your writing needs, from business emails to academic research.