Subjects
Grades
Fascism
Concept sheet | History
Secondary
4
Table of contents
Fascism is a right-wing radical political ideology that opposes democracy, individualism, economic freedom, parliamentarianism, communism and socialism. Fascism is often coupled with racism.
Benito Mussolini developed this ideology in Italy around 1922. Building on Mussolini’s political regime, Nazism is a form of fascism later developed by the German Nazi group between 1933 and 1945.
Fascism promotes the establishment of an all-powerful state led by a single political party, encouraging the cult-like following of the leadership. Another characteristic of fascism is ethnic nationalism, meaning that a hierarchy exists among different people, with some people inferior and others superior.
This ideology reached some people in Quebec, including Adrien Arcand, leader of the Parti national social chrétien (PNSC). Supporters of fascism were called Blue Shirts and participated in marches where they spread antisemitic ideas. However, Adrien Arcand’s fascist party did not gain much public support and failed to get any deputies elected.
Antisemitism is discrimination and hostility towards Jewish people.
Adrien Arcand, leader of the Parti national social chrétien
This is Guido Nincheri’s fresco at Notre-Dame-de-la-Défense church in Montreal. Benito Mussolini, the founder of Fascism, is shown here on his horse.
Photography by Collin Rose