Palingenetic ultranationalism
Encyclopedia
Palingenetic ultranationalism is a theory concerning generic fascism
formulated by British political theorist Roger Griffin
. The key elements are that fascism can be defined by its core myth
, namely that of "national rebirth" — palingenesis
. Griffin argues that the unique synthesis of palingenesis and ultranationalism differentiates fascism from para-fascism and other authoritarian
nationalist
ideologies. This is what he calls the "fascist minimum" without which there is no fascism.
The idea was first put forth in the 1991 book The Nature of Fascism, and has been expanded in a paper titled Staging The Nation's Rebirth: The Politics and Aesthetics of Performance in the Context of Fascist Studies in the 1994 volume Fascism and Theatre: The Politics and Aesthetics in the Era of Fascism.
myth
” to attract large masses of voters who have lost their faith in traditional politics by promising them a brighter future under fascist rule. Fascists do not exclusively make this promise: other political ideologies also incorporate some palingenetic aspects in their party programs, since politicians almost always promise to improve the situation. More radical
movements often want to overthrow the old order, which has become decadent
and alien to the common man
. This powerful and energetic demolition of the old ways may require some form of revolution
or battle, but this is represented as glorious and necessary. Such movements thus compare the (recent) past with the future, which is presented as a rebirth of society after a period of decay and misery. The palingenetic myth can also possibly stand for a return to a golden age
in the country’s history, so that the past can be a guidebook to a better tomorrow. Fascism distinguishes itself by being the only ideology that focuses strongly on the revolution in its myth, or as Griffin puts it:
Through all this there will be one great leader who battles the representatives of the old system with help from the grassroots
support. They appear as one mass of people
who have only one goal, which is to create their new future. They have infinite faith in their mythical hero
(it is improbable that this figure is female, because fascism is a largely male movement) as he stands for everything they believe in. With him, the country will rise like a phoenix
from the ashes of corruption and decadence.. Griffin later on criticises fascism with regard to this ongoing and never-ending revolution
, because the promised society can never be attained. The energy and dynamism that is propagated leads nowhere, the myth will never be realised and this is why any fascist society must eventually break down.
has been argued to be a syncretic political ideology
that was developed in the 1990s by former Third Positionists
to promote a stateless
palingenetic ultranationalism.
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
formulated by British political theorist Roger Griffin
Roger Griffin
Roger D. Griffin is a British academic political theorist at Oxford Brookes University, England. His recent efforts have focused on a definition and examination of fascism...
. The key elements are that fascism can be defined by its core myth
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
, namely that of "national rebirth" — palingenesis
Palingenesis
Palingenesis is a concept of rebirth or re-creation, used in various contexts in philosophy, theology, politics, and biology. Its meaning stems from Greek palin, meaning again, and genesis, meaning birth....
. Griffin argues that the unique synthesis of palingenesis and ultranationalism differentiates fascism from para-fascism and other authoritarian
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
ideologies. This is what he calls the "fascist minimum" without which there is no fascism.
The idea was first put forth in the 1991 book The Nature of Fascism, and has been expanded in a paper titled Staging The Nation's Rebirth: The Politics and Aesthetics of Performance in the Context of Fascist Studies in the 1994 volume Fascism and Theatre: The Politics and Aesthetics in the Era of Fascism.
Overview
Griffin argues that fascism uses the “palingeneticPalingenesis
Palingenesis is a concept of rebirth or re-creation, used in various contexts in philosophy, theology, politics, and biology. Its meaning stems from Greek palin, meaning again, and genesis, meaning birth....
myth
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
” to attract large masses of voters who have lost their faith in traditional politics by promising them a brighter future under fascist rule. Fascists do not exclusively make this promise: other political ideologies also incorporate some palingenetic aspects in their party programs, since politicians almost always promise to improve the situation. More radical
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
movements often want to overthrow the old order, which has become decadent
Decadence
Decadence can refer to a personal trait, or to the state of a society . Used to describe a person's lifestyle. Concise Oxford Dictionary: "a luxurious self-indulgence"...
and alien to the common man
Commoner
In British law, a commoner is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a peer. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as Prince Harry of Wales or Anne, Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer's family, including someone who holds only a courtesy title,...
. This powerful and energetic demolition of the old ways may require some form of revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
or battle, but this is represented as glorious and necessary. Such movements thus compare the (recent) past with the future, which is presented as a rebirth of society after a period of decay and misery. The palingenetic myth can also possibly stand for a return to a golden age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
in the country’s history, so that the past can be a guidebook to a better tomorrow. Fascism distinguishes itself by being the only ideology that focuses strongly on the revolution in its myth, or as Griffin puts it:
Through all this there will be one great leader who battles the representatives of the old system with help from the grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
support. They appear as one mass of people
Mass movement
Mass movement refers to the political concept of a political party or movement which is supported by large segments of a population. Political movements that typically advocate the creation of a mass movement include the ideologies of communism and fascism...
who have only one goal, which is to create their new future. They have infinite faith in their mythical hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
(it is improbable that this figure is female, because fascism is a largely male movement) as he stands for everything they believe in. With him, the country will rise like a phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
from the ashes of corruption and decadence.. Griffin later on criticises fascism with regard to this ongoing and never-ending revolution
Permanent Revolution
Permanent revolution is a term within Marxist theory, established in usage by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical...
, because the promised society can never be attained. The energy and dynamism that is propagated leads nowhere, the myth will never be realised and this is why any fascist society must eventually break down.
Contemporary examples
National-AnarchismNational-Anarchism
National-Anarchism is a radical, anti-capitalist, anti-statist, right-wing political and cultural ideology which emphasizes ethnic tribalism. As a prelude to an anticipated racial civil war and a collapse of the capitalist system, National-Anarchists seek to establish autonomous villages for...
has been argued to be a syncretic political ideology
Syncretic politics
Syncretic politics or spectral-syncretic refers to a form of politics outside of the conventional left-right political spectrum, this term is especially used by some scholars to describe the political nature of fascism...
that was developed in the 1990s by former Third Positionists
Third Position
Third Position is a revolutionary nationalist political ideology that emphasizes its opposition to both communism and capitalism. Advocates of Third Position politics typically present themselves as "beyond left and right", instead claiming to syncretize radical ideas from both ends of the...
to promote a stateless
Stateless society
A stateless society is a society that is not governed by a state. In stateless societies, there is little concentration of authority; most positions of authority that do exist are very limited in power and are generally not permanently held positions; and social bodies that resolve disputes through...
palingenetic ultranationalism.