Modern political discourse has long categorized fascism as the "far right" and communism as the "far left," implying they are ideological opposites. However, when examined through the lens of government control versus individual liberty, it becomes clear that both fascism and communism belong on the far left of the political spectrum—not as opposites, but as rival factions of collectivist ideology. Their main distinction is not in their goals but in their methods of control: one through direct state ownership (communism), the other through regulatory dominance (fascism).
The Left-Right Spectrum: Its Origin in the French Revolution
The confusion over where to place fascism on the political spectrum stems, in part, from a misunderstanding of the left-right paradigm itself. The origins of these terms trace back to the French Revolution (1789-1799):
The left consisted of the Jacobins and revolutionaries, who sought radical change, the overthrow of the monarchy, and the implementation of government-planned economic and social structures.
The right consisted of those supporting the monarchy and traditional institutions, favoring stability and decentralized authority.
This original left-right distinction was based on support for revolutionary change versus support for established order, rather than a debate over the size and role of government. Over time, as the idea of popular governance evolved, the left became associated with collectivism and state control, while the right aligned more with individual liberty, private property, and limited government.
By this definition, both fascism and communism fall squarely on the left because they demand strong centralized government and diminish individual liberties. They are merely different strains of authoritarian collectivism.
Fascism: Government Control Without Formal Ownership
While communism seeks to abolish private property and place the means of production under direct state control, fascism allows private property to exist in name only. Under fascist regimes, businesses and industries are technically private but are subject to absolute government regulation and direction. Private ownership becomes a façade, as the state dictates what businesses can produce, how they operate, and who benefits from their labor.
This model mirrors the regulatory state seen in modern interventionist economies—where government control, not ownership, determines economic outcomes.
Communism and Fascism: Rival Siblings, Not Opposites
Both communism and fascism:
Centralize power in the state.
Suppress dissent and political opposition.
Reject free markets in favor of government-managed economies.
Prioritize collective goals over individual rights.
Use propaganda to maintain control.
The key difference lies in their rhetoric and presentation. Communists frame their cause as class struggle (workers vs. capitalists), while fascists frame theirs in terms of national unity (the state as the highest ideal). But both lead to the same reality: the subjugation of the individual to the will of the state.
Why Fascism Was Misclassified as “Right-Wing”
Fascism was originally recognized as a leftist ideology. Benito Mussolini, the founder of fascism, was a devoted socialist before developing his own brand of totalitarianism. In fact, Mussolini openly acknowledged the similarities between fascism and socialism:
"The twentieth century will be a century of fascism, a century of Italian socialism, a century of the corporate state."
However, the perception of fascism as right-wing was largely a political maneuver during World War II. When Nazi Germany and fascist Italy turned against the Soviet Union, communist sympathizers in the West sought to portray their Soviet allies as ideological opposites of fascism, despite the fact that Soviet communism and German national socialism were both authoritarian systems.
The Soviet Union and its ideological supporters pushed a propaganda campaign that labeled fascism as a right-wing ideology to justify their alliance with Western democracies. This label stuck, despite its historical inaccuracy.
The Rise of the U.S. Regulatory State: A Soft Form of Fascism?
While the United States was founded as a constitutional republic designed to limit government power, the growth of the federal bureaucracy has moved the country closer to the economic model of fascism—not in the militaristic sense, but in the economic structure of a heavily regulated, state-influenced private sector.
Consider the hallmarks of fascist economics:
Private businesses exist, but only under heavy government regulation and direction.
Major industries become dependent on government subsidies, bailouts, and contracts.
Government agencies dictate economic activity through bureaucratic rules rather than market forces.
Dissenting views are suppressed, often through indirect coercion such as regulatory harassment or censorship.
Now, compare these to modern America:
The Federal Reserve manipulates interest rates and currency value, distorting free-market principles.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and other regulatory agencies dictate how businesses must operate, often without congressional approval.
Government picks winners and losers through corporate subsidies, bailouts, and contracts (e.g., bank bailouts, green energy incentives, government-backed mortgages).
Social media platforms, though technically private, enforce government-driven narratives, often under the threat of regulatory action.
This regulatory overreach has led to an economic structure where businesses are free in name only—a defining characteristic of fascism. The private sector operates under the constant threat of government intervention, meaning true economic freedom is diminished.
The True Left-Right Divide: Liberty vs. Tyranny
A more accurate political spectrum is not one based on arbitrary labels of "right" and "left," but one that measures government control vs. individual liberty:
Far Left: Total government control (Communism, Fascism, Socialism)
Far Right: Total individual liberty (Anarchy, Free Markets)
Center: Constitutional Republics, where government is constrained by law to protect individual freedoms.
By this standard, fascism and communism are nearly identical and belong firmly on the left. The true opposite of these collectivist ideologies is classical liberalism and constitutional republicanism, which prioritize individual rights, private property, and decentralized power—the very principles the Founding Fathers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
The Danger of Mislabeling Fascism
Labeling fascism as "right-wing" serves only to obscure the reality of authoritarianism. The true political battle is not between an arbitrary "left" and "right," but between liberty and tyranny.
Both fascism and communism reject the Founders’ vision of a limited government constrained by constitutional checks and balances. To combat the rise of either ideology, we must recognize that government control—whether through direct ownership or strict regulation—is the enemy of liberty.
America was founded on the principles of limited government, free markets, and individual rights. The creeping expansion of regulatory power threatens these principles, making it imperative that we recognize the parallels between historical fascism and the modern regulatory state. If government can dictate what businesses produce, what speech is acceptable, and what industries thrive or fail, then private property and free enterprise are illusions.
By restoring an understanding of the true political spectrum, we can refocus the debate on preserving individual freedom against the encroachments of an all-powerful state.
Good stuff! You've either got right wing anarchy, or varying degrees of socialism/communism. Not a difficult choice in my book!