Why did the middle classes support fascism?

Summary

This video explores the middle-class (petty Bourgeois) support for fascist movements, focusing on the Nazi party’s rise in Germany and its appeal to small business owners and self-employed individuals during the Weimar Republic. The script discusses how economic instability, fears of big capital, and resentment towards organized labor shaped Nazi ideology and its appeal to the lower middle class. It also draws parallels to modern right-wing populism, particularly in the US, illustrating how small business owners continue to influence political dynamics today through movements like MAGA and anti-lockdown protests, often exacerbating class divisions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fascism’s rise in Nazi Germany was largely fueled by the petty bourgeoisie (lower middle class), who felt economically insecure and threatened by both big business and organized labor.
• 😀 Despite appealing to small business owners and workers with anti-capitalist rhetoric, the Nazis ultimately sided with big business once in power, exposing the contradictions in their ideology.
• 😀 The Nazis’ political strategy included appealing to the lower middle class’s economic fears, using their frustrations to create a mass base for their fascist movement.
• 😀 The relationship between the petty bourgeoisie and fascism can be seen in modern right-wing populist movements, such as Trumpism, where small business owners and the self-employed form a significant base of support.
• 😀 During the pandemic, small business owners who felt financially threatened by lockdowns expressed dissatisfaction, leading some to adopt conspiracy theories, such as the virus being a hoax or part of a communist plot.
• 😀 Workers' responses to the pandemic contrasted with those of the petty bourgeoisie, as striking workers demanded better working conditions, safety measures, and protections from COVID-19, highlighting class-based divisions in political movements.
• 😀 Class consciousness has declined significantly in modern times, making it easier for ruling classes to exploit cultural divisions (race, gender, etc.) rather than focusing on economic and class struggles.
• 😀 The decline in class solidarity has led many workers to identify as 'temporarily unsuccessful entrepreneurs' rather than as laborers, which has weakened collective action against exploitative systems.
• 😀 Right-wing populist movements, including MAGA, draw support from middle-class anxieties about economic insecurity, but ultimately serve to protect the interests of big capital and reduce the power of organized labor.
• 😀 The rise of right-wing populism and fascism is in part due to the manipulation of cultural issues, creating internal splits within the working class and pitting workers against each other instead of uniting them against their exploiters.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video transcript?

The video primarily focuses on the rise of Nazi support in Germany, particularly from the petty bourgeoisie (lower middle class), and draws comparisons to contemporary political movements, such as the MAGA movement in the United States, exploring the relationship between class, politics, and extremism.

Why is the middle class considered the main base of support for the Nazis?

The Nazis' core support came from the lower middle class, including small business owners, the self-employed, shopkeepers, and rural landowners. The Nazi Party explicitly addressed their concerns, promising to protect and revitalize the middle class while offering a solution to their fears of being outcompeted by big businesses and marginalized by labor movements.

How did Nazi propaganda appeal to small business owners and the self-employed?

Nazi propaganda targeted the petty bourgeois by emphasizing the protection of property rights, criticizing both big business and Marxist labor movements. The Nazis portrayed themselves as the defenders of small businesses against both large corporations and organized labor, which helped them gain significant support from this group.

How did the Nazi Party use anti-Semitism to appeal to the middle class?

The Nazis portrayed Jews in contradictory ways, associating them with both big capitalist greed and the negative traits of the poor. This dual characterization resonated with the middle class's fears of both large businesses and organized labor, simplifying the complex world by creating a common enemy, the Jews, who were blamed for economic instability.

Why were industrial workers less likely to support the Nazi Party?

Industrial workers, especially those in large-scale industries, were more likely to support socialist and communist parties due to their stronger solidarity through labor unions. Unlike the middle class, industrial workers had a sense of community and collective organization, which protected them from the individualistic paranoia that the Nazis capitalized on among the petty bourgeois.

What does Trotsky’s analysis of fascism contribute to the understanding of the middle class's role in fascism?

Trotsky's analysis highlights the latent tendency among the middle class, particularly in times of economic crisis, to support fascism. He argued that although not every middle-class person would become a fascist, there is a latent potential for middle-class paranoia to be exploited by far-right movements, which is essential in understanding the rise of fascism.

How did the Nazi regime prioritize big business over the middle class after taking power?

After coming to power, the Nazi Party abandoned its promises to the middle class and prioritized the interests of large businesses. The Nazis sought to eliminate trade unions and communists while securing the support of industrialists in exchange for political favors, ultimately serving the interests of big capital over the lower middle class.

What parallels are drawn between Nazi support and contemporary right-wing populism in the United States?

The video draws parallels between Nazi support and the MAGA movement, particularly among small business owners and self-employed individuals who identify with the idea of personal freedom and economic independence. Both groups tend to resent government intervention in business and share similar fears of being marginalized by larger societal forces, which can be exploited by right-wing populist movements.

How did small business owners respond to the COVID-19 lockdowns, and what does this reveal about their class position?

Small business owners, particularly those in the petty bourgeois class, were disproportionately involved in anti-lockdown protests. Their concerns were driven by the economic impact of the lockdown, which threatened their businesses. The protests revealed how these individuals viewed their businesses as essential to their personal freedom and economic well-being, often dismissing public health concerns in favor of business interests.

How does the lack of class consciousness among the working class contribute to political divisions?

The decline in class consciousness, where workers no longer see themselves as part of the working class but rather as 'temporary' entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals, contributes to political divisions. This ideological shift is exploited by companies and political movements to create false solidarity between workers and the petty bourgeois, further dividing efforts to organize against exploitation.