Konstantinov, M. S. Fascism: Operationalization of Features

Abstract: The purpose of the present work is to clarify, define and operationalize features of fascist ideology for further social researches. To achieve this goal, the author addresses to classical researches of fascism in works written by Roger Griffin, Stanley George Payne, Emilio Gentile, Alexander Galkin, etc. According to the author of the article, the main problem when studying the aforesaid topic is the absence of distinctive criteria for identification of this or that complex of ideas as a fascist ideology. Eclectic and uncertain nature of right radicalism as well the combination of incompatible ideas make it difficult to carry out concrete sociological researches of the potential social basis for fascist movements. As the author assumes, the method of ideological morphology offered by a British scientist Michael Freeden could have solved that problem. Based on the aforesaid approach, fascist ideology has the two basic concepts (the idea of poast-crisis revolutionary revival and radical ultra nationalism), closely related concepts (negative attitude to liberalism and conservatism, ‘creative nihilism’, anti-elitism, holism, focus on action, masculinity, etc.) as well as peripheral concepts (the cult of personality, leaderism, paramilitarism, etc.). Such a clear structure of fascist ideology allows to operationalize concepts of fascist ideology for further social researches.

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