Socialist, Communist, Fascist
Labels are important - they help us identify the qualities of that which is labeled. However, at times labels can be misleading. Perhaps it's that labels are sometimes misunderstood, or misused.
In the arena of ideas words can be misused to avoid a truthful assessment of an idea or a position. If the opposing view can be painted as radical, there is less concern that it will be accepted as logical. Words can also be redefined to change the opposing view into something it was never intended to be.
No doubt this is done in some way by both side of an issue. Some conservatives shout "Communist" while some liberals chant "Fascist". Because of this we humbly offer the AbsoluteOpinion Dictionary where we try to define what these words really mean, and how they are used wrongly. We start the AO Dictionary by defining these three words:
Socialist, Socialism
A socialist is a person who advocates that government is the solution to societal problems. This is the opposite of a capitalist who advocates that free enterprise is the solution to societal problems.
Socialism is the political and economic system of the collective. In theory it states that cooperation is more efficient than competition - that public ownership is better than private ownership. In practice socialism can exist as a subsystem inside other economic systems - in essence claiming that sometimes public ownership is a better solution than private ownership.
Political socialism may be voluntary - as exhibited by many socialistic states in Europe. Also programs such as social security, and social health care illustrate socialism operating in a officially capitalistic economy and political structure.
Socialism may also be involuntary - then it is communism. Socialism is viewed as the stage between capitalism and communism.
Communist, Communism
A communist advances the cause of socialism through conflict and force. This of course usually necessitates the establishment of a dictator. Examples: Castro is a communist, Chirac is a socialist. Europe is socialist; China, USSR, N. Korea, Cuba are communist.
A communist is by definition a socialist; however, a socialist is not necessarily a communist. A socialist may desire socialistic practices be adopted by democratic means, while to attempt to force the adoption or preservation of socialistic practices is the action of a communist.
The title of 'Communist' is sometimes used wrongly to distract from a conflict between socialism and capitalism. It is used to infer that the socialist desires that socialism be adopted by force; however, that is not necessarily true.
Fascist, Fascism
A fascist believes that the state is supreme over all. Contrasted with communism, fascism is the forceful subjection of the individual not to the greater public, but to the government.
Fascism appeals not to a patriotic love of country, but to a egotistical glorification of nationalism. The fascist leader is a kind of demagogue, using natural prejudices and emotions to gain power. Fascism is justified by evolution and in turn justifies imperialism.
While the term 'fascist' comes from Mussolini's political movement, the greatest example of Fascism in our time was Nazism.
You may hear the word 'Fascism' thrown at conservatives; however, it's doubtful that those using the term understand what it means.