Fascism: The political class serving the capital class

Fascism is frequently described, particularly from a Marxist or critical theory perspective, as a system where the political class serves the interests of the capital class, especially during times of capitalist crisis or when the ruling elite perceives their power as threatened by the rising working class or socialist movements.cpusa+2​

Key Concepts: Political and Capital Classes

Fascism emerged historically as an alliance between the state apparatus and the wealthiest segments of society, notably large industrialists and financiers. The fascist state consolidates the power of the political elite, but primarily in ways that protect and advance the interests of the dominant economic class (capitalists). This arrangement arises when capitalist crisis or the possibility of revolutionary change threatens elite interests, leading to support for authoritarian, anti-labor policies as a means of suppressing working-class movements.reddit+5​

Mechanisms: How Political Servitude Works

• Fascist governments destroy independent labor organizations, replacing them with state-controlled entities to suppress wages and ban strikes, ensuring that business owners can maximize profits and control labor.wikipedia​

• Industrialists and financial elites have historically funded and tolerated fascist movements because these movements violently suppress labor unrest and leftist movements, and reassert control during periods of social upheaval.jacobin+2​

• The fascist state often undertakes privatization, reverses previous social reforms, and institutes economic and social controls to fortify corporate power and discourage leftist organization.mronline+1​

Theoretical and Historical Perspective

Antonio Gramsci, George Jackson, and other Marxist theorists have argued that fascism should be understood as a reactionary solution by capital to manage crises and prevent the loss of elite control in the face of rising working-class movements and deep structural contradictions in capitalism. Rather than being a broad-based movement, fascism is seen as a tool of "counterrevolution," propped up by segments of the political class to defend capital by violent and authoritarian means.hamptonthink+3​

Summary Table: Marxist View of Fascism

Feature	Fascism’s Relationship to Capital Class	Source
Labor Suppression	Outlaws strikes, suppresses unions	wikipedia​
Elite Funding	Supported/funded by major industrialists	jacobin+1​
State-Corporate Alliance	State policy favors business elites	wikipedia+1​
Crisis Management	Reaction to revolutionary threats	cpusa+1​
Repressive Measures	Political terror against leftist opposition	cpusa+1​

Fascism, therefore, can be analyzed as a system in which the political elite—rather than acting independently—work in close alliance with and for the benefit of the capital-owning elite, especially during periods when capitalist rule is endangered by crises or mass movements.cpusa+2​

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