What is "eurofascism"?

[Peregrin Toker]

I have occassionally heard or seen the word "eurofascism", but most of the uses of this words do not really provide much of a definition. However, it seems that it usually is used to describe one of following:

1. The ideology more commonly described as [rul=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euronationalism]euronationalism.[/url]
2. A hypothetical full-blown mid-21st century revival of fascism which is often assumed to be the logical consequence of Euronationalism.
3. European Neo-fascism and related movements, though I am not aware of exactly how different European neo-fascists and neo-nazis are different from their American and Australian counterparts.
4. An umbrella term describing the ideology Fascist regimes of 20th century Europe (eg. Mussolini, Franco and Hitler), implying that it is different from various non-European ideologies which can be described as fascist.
5. Mussolini/Franco-style Fascism, as distinguished from "technofascism". (a word whose meaning I have not fully grasped either, aside from that it is used by people who believe that Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is an accurate prediction of today's society)

However, are there any papers which define eurofascism? How commonly used is the term? What do you think about the word?

[Darth Wong]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I've actually tried to ironically mock this behaviour by using the term "Christofascist", but it's not catching on.

[Joe]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I've actually tried to ironically mock this behaviour by using the term "Christofascist", but it's not catching on.

Of which movements other than Islamism do you speak? I don't know any others off the top of my head.

[Dakarne]

I've never encountered this term before...

interesting, I'll give it a look

[Peregrin Toker]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I think it is a fairly new word, the oldest apparent use I have found of it is this essay which appears to be four or five years old as it cites no sources newer than 2000.

[Duckie]

I've never seen it, but it rings of what a Neoconservative in America would say about the EU and its constituant Governments like France or Sweden. [As far as I know, they're the only ones with opinions on it, either.]

[Spanky The Dolphin]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I think it is a fairly new word, the oldest apparent use I have found of it is this essay which appears to be four or five years old as it cites no sources newer than 2000.

The Wiki has an entry on a book called Fascism made up of essays of fascist authors and edited by Roger Griffin of Oxford University (and which is part of their Oxford Readers series) from 1995. ISBN 0192892495.

[Darth Wong]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I've actually tried to ironically mock this behaviour by using the term "Christofascist", but it's not catching on.

Of which movements other than Islamism do you speak? I don't know any others off the top of my head.

"Feminazi" leaps immediately to mind. Also "envirofascists". Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

[RedImperator]

How long has this term been around? Or is it one of those terms which has cropped up recently, as a result of the American neo-conservative tendency to invent negative terminology for political movements they dislike by slapping "nazi" or "fascist" suffixes onto them?

I've actually tried to ironically mock this behaviour by using the term "Christofascist", but it's not catching on.

Of which movements other than Islamism do you speak? I don't know any others off the top of my head.

"Feminazi" leaps immediately to mind. Also "envirofascists". Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

Feminazi was popularized by Limbaugh while the neocons were still throwing feces at each other at various foreign policy think-tanks--early in the Clinton years, if I recall correctly. I have no idea when environazi came into use, though I remember it from the late '90s.

[Peregrin Toker]

I have never seen the word "environazi" used before Mike Wong brought it up. However, I have often heard a similar word "ecofascist" used, sometimes even by "Greens" themselves.

[SPOOFE]

Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

Right, because liberals never use those terms about conservatives...

ANYWAY, going by the common nomenclature of such terms, "eurofascist" probably just refers to someone that mindlessly attacks American policy while at the same time holding European policy as the bastion of mankind.

[Darth Wong]

Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

Right, because liberals never use those terms about conservatives...

Well, when I think of terms like this, I think of "envirofascist", "environazi", "feminazi", "islamofascist", and of course, this new and meaningless "eurofascist" term. Which commonly used liberal terms were you referring to? Or was supposed to serve as a stand-in for actual examples?

[Dakarne]

What is it about adding Nazi and Fascist to a movement people disagree with...

I haven't seen Britanazi and Britafascist yet, so I'm safe for now.

[Duckie]

Which commonly used liberal terms were you referring to? Or was supposed to serve as a stand-in for actual examples?

Well, many Conservatives are referred to as facists by tantrumy, Democratic Underground-style Liberals. That's like saying that is like saying John McEnroe is an example of the civility of Tennis Players.

[xerex]

Which commonly used liberal terms were you referring to? Or was supposed to serve as a stand-in for actual examples?

Well, many Conservatives are referred to as facists by tantrumy, Democratic Underground-style Liberals. That's like saying that is like saying John McEnroe is an example of the civility of Tennis Players.

oh that's becasue many of the current crop of American Conservatives ARE closet fascists.......[ducks]

[Darth Wong]

The word "fascist" is not an example of a bastardized term which has "fascist" or "nazi" attached to the end of it for rhetorical purposes.

[Surlethe]

What is it about adding Nazi and Fascist to a movement people disagree with...

MAJOR negative connotations from WWII.

[thejester]

"Feminazi" leaps immediately to mind. Also "envirofascists". Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

I've seen 'Islamofascists' around a lot. How this works I'm not sure - I'm fairly confident that Osama hasn't been reading Mein Kampf or Mussolinin biographies.

[Dakarne]

Osama and his Ilk are just Islamic Fundamentalists.

[tharkûn]

Well, when I think of terms like this, I think of "envirofascist", "environazi", "feminazi", "islamofascist", and of course, this new and meaningless "eurofascist" term. Which commonly used liberal terms were you referring to? Or was Rolling Eyes supposed to serve as a stand-in for actual examples?

Crypto-fascist is common among the loony protestor crowd here, that oginally had a valid meaning so I don't know if it counts. Corporate fascist is also somewhat popular, especially when haranguing the media. Republifascist makes the odd appearance, but normally only among the DU type idiots.

[Peregrin Toker]

Corporate fascist is also somewhat popular, especially when haranguing the media.

"Corporate Fascist" is actually a redundant term, since Mussolini supposedly described Fascism as "the merger of state and corporate power".

[Maku]

"Feminazi" leaps immediately to mind. Also "envirofascists". Basically take any political movement that the neo-cons don't like, and you tend to find them using its name with "nazi" or "fascist" stuck onto the end as long as it will roll off the tongue reasonably well.

I've seen 'Islamofascists' around a lot. How this works I'm not sure - I'm fairly confident that Osama hasn't been reading Mein Kampf or Mussolinin biographies.

That one's easy. In a country like the US, where lots of people are proud to call themselves Christian Fundamentalists, you have a fair number of people who would rather describe Islamic nutjobs as 'fascists' rather than 'fundamentalists' so as to disassociate their own brand of religious lunacy from that of their 'evil enemies.'

[Rye]

Corporate fascist is also somewhat popular, especially when haranguing the media.

"Corporate Fascist" is actually a redundant term, since Mussolini supposedly described Fascism as "the merger of state and corporate power".

Yes, except the use of fascist is vernacular, referring to anyone generally elitist, dictatorial, or intolerant.

P.S Your avatar keeps reminding me of the glans of a penis.

[Kettch]

I think it is a fairly new word, the oldest apparent use I have found of it is this essay which appears to be four or five years old as it cites no sources newer than 2000.

Good find peregin!

A quick skim of this essay matches what my typiclal interpretation of Euro-facism. It is a reference to right wing movements in Europe, especially those involving pro European Union. It is the idea of a Europe under one umbrella, even if they don't get Hitler in charge, that can flex its muscles.

Sometimes there are also implication of European hostility to Israel or a fear od centralized government. i.e. Europeans controling French life.

[tharkûn]

"Corporate Fascist" is actually a redundant term, since Mussolini supposedly described Fascism as "the merger of state and corporate power".

Mussolini's fascism was however nationalistic, this term is used without nationalistic connotations, particularly it attacks international corporatations which protesters think muzzle the media, lead to terrible free trade pacts, control the US government, etc. (the wilder charges correspond directly with the size of the tinfoil hat worn by the protestor).

That one's easy. In a country like the US, where lots of people are proud to call themselves Christian Fundamentalists, you have a fair number of people who would rather describe Islamic nutjobs as 'fascists' rather than 'fundamentalists' so as to disassociate their own brand of religious lunacy from that of their 'evil enemies.'

Funny the term Islamofascist originate the Jewish author Duran. Duran straight up called them fundies and said they seek, "to impose religious orthodoxy on the state and the citizenry". It was popularized by a former Trotskyite who I think still is areligious.

It has always been a derogatory term used for rhetorical purposes, but it was noting that today's Islamicists are a different breed than those of yesteryear. Gone are the old Soviet clients who had the odd mix of Arabism, Socialism/Marxism, and Islamism - now we see Islamicists movements that are far more "right wing", abhor all marxism, and don't give a damn about Arabism. Today's radical Islamicist has little to nothing in common with the the movements of the 60's and 70's, but is strikingly reminiscent of those from the 30's and 40's when they were outright Islamic Fascists (like the the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem).

The term is definately loaded, as is Christofacism, but there is a kernal of truth at the heart of it.