Fascism and Social Revolution

by R. Palme Dutt

The issue of a second edition of this book provides the opportunity for a short note on the development of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in the six months since May 1934. The outstanding development in the world of Fascism during this period has been the signs of the first stages of a gathering crisis of Fascism—most sharply expressed in the events of June 30 in Germany, but also reflected in the desperate murder-coup fiasco against Dollfuss on July 25, in the extreme German-Italian war-tension, and in the Arpinati episode in Italy, and still further reflected (in the countries not yet conquered by Fascism) in the setback to the Fascist advance in France during the months immediately succeeding the February offensive, in the setback to Mosley in Britain as shown by Olympia and Hyde Park and by the formal disassociation of Rothermere from Mosley, and in the strength of the Spanish workers’ resistance to Fascism. While it would be a mistake to exaggerate the significance of particular events and fluctuations in a long-drawn and profound world-conflict, it is evident that there has been during this period an increase in the inner contradictions and difficulties of Fascism and an awakening and gathering of the mass forces of resistance to Fascism. —From the Preface

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Germany, Theory

318 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1934

About the author

Rajani Palme Dutt, best known as R. Palme Dutt, was a leading journalist and theoretician in the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Reviews

[thekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author rejects from the beginning any attempt to deal with the phaenomenon of fascism as something seperate from other political parties, namely liberal, conservative and socialdemocrat. In fact, he claims that any thorough reseach into the so called "fascist ideology" will be misleading. Using financial data, laws and edicts and public statements from all over Europe and North America during the era 1920-1934, the author tries to indicate the similarities between fascist government programs with the ones of the parliamentary states of G. Britain and USA, and tries to build up the theory that fascism is in fact the most violent capitalist tool in times of financial crisis and social turmoil. Fascists never gain total power by landsliding popular vote: they are always appointed by the capitalist state.

A great deal of the book is dedicated to the role of socialdemocracy. The author claims that socialdemocratic parties are much to be blamed for the rise of fascism because they pledge their alliegience to capitalism, seeking only to transform it, and parliamentarism, so that eventually the working class loses its revolutionary momentum. Dutt goes even far to acuse socialdemocrats as "social-fascist" because they advocate similar economic and diplomatic meassures with fascists, and in some cases they even ask for mild cooperation with them against communism (to their doom of course). The quelling of the German Revolution thanks to the German Socialdemokrats and the Freikorps was in 1918 and memories were fresh.

Finally, the author's predictions "socialism or fascism" in the whole capitalist world were not to come true, because of World War II. However, Dutt managed to predict very clearly that a Great War will eventually start with fascism at the vanguard and the primary target will be the Soviet Union.




Overall, if one overlooks the failed future predictions of the author and his sometimes total association of socialdemocrats with fascists (clearly, socialdemocrats are much to be blaimed but you cant accept that are the same thing with fascists), it is a valuable book because it goes straight to the point: apart from what it says to gain power, what does fascism actually does before and when in power? What are its ultimate goals and why it always appears in times of economic crisis?

[Carlos Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally important book; overall probably the best historical overview of fascism as a political phenomenon. It was written in 1934, a few months before the Comintern started shifting away from a more militant 'class against class' position in favour of a united front against fascism. As such, there are quite a few strategic formulations in Palme Dutt's book that quite quickly became outdated, but there's nothing unusual about that - there are no magic wands in the struggle against oppression. However, in terms of developing an understanding of the genuine nature of fascism - its utility (in certain circumstances) to the capitalist class, its methods, and its relationship to the capitulation and collaborationism of social democracy - Fascism and Social Revolution is essential reading.

Lucky me, I've got a first edition hardback (Martin Lawrence, London). But it's been reprinted a couple of times, and the PDF can be found easily enough.

[sologdin · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The more obvious and glaring expressions of this process, the burning of foodstuffs, the dismantling of machinery that is still in good condition, strike the imagination of all. But all do not yet see the full significance of these symptoms: first, the expression through these symptoms of the extreme stage of decay of the whole capitalist order; second, the inseparable connection of this process of decay with the social and political phenomena of decay which find their complete expression in Fascism; and third, the necessary completion and final working out of this process in war. For war is only the complete and most systematic working out of the process of destruction. To-day they are burning wheat and grain, the means of human life. To-morrow they will be burning living human bodies."

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of the most comprehensive Marxist analyses of fascism I've ever read.
I found this book in the sources for Michael Parenti's "Blackshirts and Reds", and I must say this book is fascinatingly in-depth. He really tried to combat what is fascism in theory and practice and the relations of fascism to a collapsing capitalist system. He also disproves and dismantles liberal and conservative narratives on Fascism of this period.
By far the most valuable is how fascism exists in material, his analysis on this has inspired my thought on the development of modern proto-fascistic movements and how they develop within societies.
A must read for anyone interested in learning about fascism.

[Munya · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best analysis on the social and economic nature of fascism, and so precisely hits home how fascism and liberalism are intrinsically linked, rather than political and economic contrasts.

[Ismael Seijo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tengo sensaciones encontradas con este libro. Es un análisis del fascismo desde las premisas de la III Internacional durante el tercer período, de modo que repite una serie de ideas erróneas y simplistas como que el capitalismo estaba a punto de derrumbarse de forma definitiva, que el fascismo era la fase final del capitalismo, que la revolución proletaria estaba más cerca con el triunfo del fascismo, etc. Por otro lado, presenta un estudio bastante serio de los regímenes fascistas, de su ideología y de su posición en la lucha de clases, acudiendo a diversas fuentes.

La mayor virtud del libro es que intenta ofrecer un análisis científico del fenómeno, a pesar de los errores. En este sentido, es lo más parecido a una fundamentación científica de la teoría del socialfascismo, generalmente alejándose de la burda identificación entre socialdemocracia y fascismo (aunque, en algún momento tiende a caer en ella).

A pesar de todo, la falta de autocrítica a la Internacional Comunista sobre sus políticas y la falta de matización sobre las posiciones de la Internacional Obrera y Socialista le llevan a que su análisis sobre el ascenso del nazismo sea especialmente reduccionista: prácticamente podría resumirse, de acuerdo a las tesis de Palme Dutt, en una conjunción de errores y traiciones del SPD.

Igualmente, su análisis del proceso de fascistización en Estados Unidos, Reino Unido y Francia está lleno de luces y sombras. Es una línea que se ha denostado bastante tras el giro frentepopulista de la Internacional, pero que creo que sería interesante explorar críticamente (sin caer en reduccionismos), en tanto podría explicar tendencias del capitalismo en crisis.

[J. Brudny · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Social Democracy controls the workers most favourably and successfully in the liberal-parliamentary class-State, utilising its own "internal" methods of discipline, and occasional State-coercion, for the suppression of all militant struggle.
Fascism operates primarily by coercion alongside of decep-
tion.
Social Democracy operates primarily by deception, alongside of coercion.
It is this combined relationship of difference in method and parallelism in basic aim and role that underlies Stalin's definition, given already in 1924 ("Main Factors of the Present International Situation," Communist International, English edition 1924, No. 6), that "Social Democracy objectively represents the moderate wing of Fascism." It should be borne in mind that this definition was directed to a specific phase in the history of Social Democracy, most sharply shown in a specific period of post-war capitalism.”

[Voyager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the most important works for understanding fascism alongside Georgi Dimitrov's famous report to the Seventh World Congress of the Communist International, this excellent piece explains in great detail exactly how and when fascism comes to power, citing the historic examples of Italy, Germany, and Austria, while demonstrating the differences in how fascism manifests in different countries. In addition to its expounding of the history of the rise of fascism in the three mentioned countries, the author gives an analysis of what fascism as the rule of finance capital itself means and how it "solves" the economic crises inherent to capitalism. An all-round excellent book on fascism still relevant today.

[Baran Belliston · Rating 5 out of 5]

For sure a go to recommendation for those looking to learn the social and political contexts for the material rise of fascism from a communist perspective.
i think that dutt fails to capture the nuance in his analysis of the populations and political climates that thus breed fascism but, his point is more than rhetorical to this end, empirically proven with the information given. ill be re-reading this soon because there's lots more to unpack.
five stars whoopiee :O

[Tanroop · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Whatever the black hells of suffering and destruction that have still be passed through, we face the future with the certainty and confidence of approaching power, with contempt for the barbarous antics of the doomed and decaying parasite-class enemy and its final misshapen progeny of Fascism, with singing hearts and glowing confidence in the future. 'The last fight let us face. The Internationale unites the human race'."

[Che · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely the most eye-opening work on Fascism I have ever read. No other text, either of its time or ours has yet come close to the lengths that Dutt has in his concise, yet significant expose of fascism as a "philosophy". R. Palme Dutt wrote a masterpiece (and I do not use that term lightly). I have never read a book that has hit me the way Dutt's has.

[Rodrigo Arce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este es el mejor libro anti fascismo que he leido. Muy bueno.

[Pooioop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, the most clear and concise take down of capitalism and its evolution to fascism caused by finance-capital and the reformist policies they peddle to the masses.

[Zach Bunch ☭ · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can not help but notice that with the rise of "woke" identity politics, the word "Fascism" has begun to be thrown around willy-nilly to an alarming degree. Much like what has happened with words like "Bigot" and "Racist" in the era of the sanctimonious SJW, the word "Fascist" has begun to lose all meaning and thus effectiveness. After reading R. Palme Dutt's 'Fascism and Social Revolution,' it has become all the more obvious that the Western "definition" of Fascism is incredibly skewed—even purposely skewed by the powers that be.

This book is truly indispensable, and it's quite obvious that it's criminally under-read.