The ‘Regime-Model’ of Fascism: A Typology

Abstract

The history of interwar European fascism has been marked by the efforts of all indigenous fascist movements to achieve ideological novelty, social appeal and eventually political supremacy. In this process, only few ‘fascist’ groups succeeded in seizing power, either autonomously or in coalition with other forces of the right. This article examines a number of interwar regimes and analyses the dynamics of fascism’s transformation from movement to political ‘regime’. Given that the complicity of the traditional right in bringing ‘fascist’ groups to power was decisive everywhere, the article asserts that the evolution of the ‘regime-model’ of fascism can be best understood as a struggle of the fascist component for emancipation and autonomy from its traditional sponsors. Consequently, the physiognomy of the ‘regime-model’ of fascism in every country was shaped in time through a confrontation between the traditional authoritarian pattern (as espoused by the traditional right) and the more radical prescriptions of the fascist groups. The article examines the variables of this confrontation and accounts for the differing levels of dynamism in every regime with ‘fascist’ participation.