What is the Difference Between Fascism and Nazism?

Fascism and Nazism are both totalitarian ideologies that rejected democracy, liberalism, and communism, but they have some fundamental differences. Here are the key differences between fascism and Nazism:

1. Origins: Fascism is commonly associated with the rise of Mussolini in Italy, while Nazism is associated with Hitler in Germany.
2. Racism: Nazism incorporates a strong element of racism, particularly antisemitism, white supremacy, and Nordicism. Italian Fascism did not initially embrace racism, but it later adopted some racist policies.
3. Nationalism: Both ideologies are characterized by extreme nationalism, but Nazism's nationalism was more focused on the superiority of the Aryan race and the necessity for expansion and conquest. Fascism, on the other hand, preserved a class system with elites regardless of race, culture, or creed.
4. Dictatorship: Both fascism and Nazism involve dictatorships, but they differ in their approach to leadership. In fascism, the class system is preserved, and the government can empower different groups as long as they agree to submit to the state. In Nazism, Adolf Hitler was the central figure, and the ideology was closely tied to his charismatic leadership.
5. Social Darwinism and Eugenics: Nazism incorporated social Darwinism and eugenics into its creed, aiming to improve the genetic quality of the Aryan race through selective breeding and extermination of "inferior" races. Fascism did not have such a strong emphasis on these concepts.

In summary, while both fascism and Nazism share some common features, they differ in their approach to race, nationalism, and leadership. Nazism is a more extreme and racist version of fascism, with a strong focus on the superiority of the Aryan race and the leadership of Adolf Hitler.

Comparative Table: Fascism vs Nazism

Fascism and Nazism are both totalitarian ideologies that emerged in the 20th century, but they have some fundamental differences. Here is a table comparing the key aspects of each ideology:

Both ideologies share some common features, such as being dictatorial, anti-democratic, anti-communist, and totalitarian. However, the differences highlighted in the table above show that Fascism and Nazism are distinct ideologies with different focuses and aims.