Nationalism

Fascism

Fascism is a political ideology combining virulent nationalism, extreme political authoritarianism, corporatist or quasi-socialist ideas, and a cultural rebellion against democracy, liberalism, and Marxism. Fascist ideology reached its zenith in Europe between 1918 and 1945, when it was promoted by social and political movements across Europe and sometimes managed to seize the reins of government. And yet fascism is not limited exclusively to interwar Europe. Its ideational and cultural origins can be traced back to the late nineteenth century; and fascist movements and ideas continued to surface in the post-1945 era, when they came to be known as neofascism. The term Fascism derives from the name of the Italian movement founded by Benito Mussolini in 1919, and which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. In contemporary social science, however, fascism is also used generically in recognition of the fact that many of the features and ideas associated with the original Italian variant have also been espoused by other movements and thinkers outside of Italy (Mosse, Pp. 29).

Communism

Communism, in its simplest definition, refers to any ideology based on a social system in which all major resources are held in common and the means of production are controlled by, and for the benefit of, the community, thus creating a classless society in which all members contribute and all members' needs are met. Karl Marx was the most influential proponent of communist theory, publishing the Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels in 1848. However, the basic concepts of communism had existed well before Marx, evidenced by forms of communal thought found in Plato's Republic and in early Christian communities (Bartlomiej and Soltan, Pp. 35).

Nationalism

Nationalism is a modern ideology that tries to explain the individual's devotion to the nation-state by neglecting other interests. It has taken many different shapes in various geographies, cultures, histories, and political systems. Even in a particular location, nationalism has transformed from one form to another throughout history. The core of nationalism is nation. What constitutes a nation is a question scholars are still trying to clarify by using approaches developed throughout the ages. Not only political science but also other branches of the humanities are trying to understand the concepts of nation and nationalism. The current technological innovations and rapid globalization have added new dimensions to nationalism and its movements. Each day brings a new peculiarity of nationalism (Brubaker, Pp. 48).

The application of theories on the ground generates varieties of nationalism ...