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Fascism is the merging of state and corporate power (as evidenced by the BCE).
Islamic fundaMentalists who would prefer to remain stuck in the 12th century are totalitarian repressed assholes, but cannot by definition be "fascists".Eat Us And Smile
Cenk For America 2024!!
Justice Democrats
"If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992Comment
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No. Actually it isn't. Fascism is a Western construct and the only real "Islamic" country is actually a partial democracy whose bellicose leader was largely elected due to US rhetoric (Iran). And the only other Muslim nation where the religious party controls things is a complete democracy and a NATO member (Turkey). But keep on believing such simpleton notions, but the world is a whole lot more complex.
Many have speculated that the reason that Islamic extremists have adopted widespread terror and became a revolutionary movement is because many of their efforts to take power democratically where thwarted by secular military officers or corrupt elites while the US either looked the other way, hypocritically, or even supported the juntas..Last edited by Nickdfresh; 01-28-2009, 10:37 AM.Comment
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Stephen Schwartz is the originator of the term. I had written quite a bit myself but Stephen's own explanation is of course much better.
From Stephen Schwartz;
"Islamofascism refers to use of the faith of Islam as a cover for totalitarian ideology. This radical phenomenon is embodied among Sunni Muslims today by such fundamentalists as the Saudi-financed Wahhabis, the Pakistani jihadists known as Jama’atis, and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. In the ranks of Shia Muslims, it is exemplified by Hezbollah in Lebanon and the clique around President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran.
Political typologies should make distinctions, rather than confusing them, and Islamofascism is neither a loose nor an improvised concept. It should be employed sparingly and precisely. The indicated movements should be treated as Islamofascist, first, because of their congruence with the defining characteristics of classic fascism, especially in its most historically-significant form—German National Socialism."
"It is a common misconception of political science to believe, in the manner of amateur Marxists, that Italian fascists and Nazis sought maintenance of order, to protect the ruling classes. Both Mussolini and Hitler agitated against “the system” governing their countries. Their willingness to resort to street violence, assassinations, and coups set the Italian and German fascists apart from ordinary defenders of ruling elites, which they sought to replace. This is an important point that should never be forgotten. Fascism is not merely a harsh dictatorship or oppression by privilege.
Islamofascism similarly pursues its aims through the willful, arbitrary, and gratuitous disruption of global society, either by terrorist conspiracies or by violation of peace between states. Al-Qaida has recourse to the former weapon; Hezbollah, in assaulting northern Israel, used the latter. These are not acts of protest, but calculated strategies for political advantage through undiluted violence. Hezbollah showed fascist methods both in its kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and in initiating that action without any consideration for the Lebanese government of which it was a member. Indeed, Lebanese democracy is a greater enemy of Hezbollah than Israel."
"Fascism was imperialistic; it demanded expansion of the German and Italian spheres of influence. Islamofascism has similar ambitions; the Wahhabis and their Pakistani and Egyptian counterparts seek control over all Sunni Muslims in the world, while Hezbollah projects itself as an ally of Syria and Iran in establishing regional dominance.
Fascism was totalitarian; i.e. it fostered a totalistic world view—a distinct social reality that separated its followers from normal society. Islamofascism parallels fascism by imposing a strict division between Muslims and alleged unbelievers. For Sunni radicals, the practice of takfir—declaring all Muslims who do not adhere to the doctrines of the Wahhabis, Pakistani Jama’atis, and the Muslim Brotherhood to be outside the Islamic global community or ummah—is one expression of Islamofascism. For Hezbollah, the posture of total rejectionism in Lebanese politics—opposing all politicians who might favor any political negotiation with Israel—serves the same purpose. Takfir, or “excommunication” of ordinary Muslims, as well as Hezbollah’s Shia radicalism, are also important as indispensable, unifying psychological tools for the strengthening of such movements."
"Fascism was paramilitary; indeed, the Italian and German military elites were reluctant to accept the fascist parties’ ideological monopoly. Al-Qaida and Hezbollah are both paramilitary. "
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There is a lot more in his article, which is thorough and instructive.
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Spare me! :D Stephen Schwartz is a Neo Con douche bag, and the prototypical 60's radical Trotskyist communist who "went over" to conservative capitalism, and now wants to "transform" democracy and free market economics into a revolutionary ideology," a violent one based on his communistic pretensions. He's far from and expert on political science or histories and is a two bit, pseudo-intellectual "journalist" masquerading as someone with a background in such comparative studies. And his term, "Islamofascism" never took off as the political buzzword it was supposed to be because it's easily discredited and completely simplistic, superficial, and disingenuous and relies on some big bullshit WWII-analogy easily spoonfed to the masses of simpleton sheep that don't read newspapers and are unable to research and think for themselves. Much like his "Neoconservative" ideology, which is most often coupled with an authoritarian mindset of "authoritarian conservationism," which is a bit of a darker face on the rosy "let's spread democracy everywhere" when in fact most Neo Con's believe in decreasing democracy here!
For a specific example: if "fascism is imperialistic," then why is the US the empire with forces spread out far across its borders into Muslim countries of the Middle East based almost solely on out energy needs? Then, aren't we the "fascists?"
Which Islamic countries are imperialists?Last edited by Nickdfresh; 01-28-2009, 03:53 PM.Comment
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