Palingenetic ultranationalism is adefinition of "true fascism" proposed by political theoristRoger Griffin. The phrase was first coined by Griffin in his 1991 bookThe Nature of Fascism.[1][2] A key element is the belief that fascism can be defined by what Griffin posits in his book to be the true coremyth of fascism, namely that of the need for asocial revolution to occur first before a "national rebirth",palingenesis, could then take place.[1][2]
Griffin argues that the unique synthesis of palingenesis, populism andultranationalism differentiates fascism frompara-fascism and otherauthoritarian,nationalist ideologies.[1][2] He asserts that this is the "fascist minimum" without which, according to his definition, there can be no "true fascism".[1][2] Griffin himself describes fascism as a political philosophy built on the "perverse mythic logic" of destruction, which the fascist believes will then be followed by some form of political rebirth.[1]
The idea was first put forth in the 1991 bookThe Nature of Fascism[1] and was expanded in the paper "Staging the Nation's Rebirth: The Politics and Aesthetics of Performance in the Context of Fascist Studies" in the 1994 volumeFascism and Theatre: The Politics and Aesthetics in the Era of Fascism.[2] Griffin's theory of "true fascism" is a recent philosophical development and is not explicitly stated in earlier political treatises on fascism, such as in Mussolini's "Doctrine of Fascism", and others. While earlier works do describe the idea of fascism as being "revolutionary", they do not list a "revolution" as being a necessary precursor to fascism.[3][4]
Griffin argues that fascism uses the "palingenetic myth" to attract large masses of voters who have lost their faith in traditional politics and religion by promising them a brighter future under fascist rule.[1][2] That promise is not made exclusively by fascists: other political ideologies also incorporate some palingenetic aspects in their party programs since politicians almost always promise to improve the situation.[1][2] Moreradical movements often want to overthrow the old order, which has becomedecadent and alien to thecommon man.[1][2] That powerful and energetic demolition of the old ways may require some form ofrevolution or battle, which is, however, represented as glorious and necessary.[1][2] 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.[1][2] The palingenetic myth can also possibly stand for a return to agolden age in the country's history so that the past can be a guidebook to a better tomorrow, with an associated regime that superficially resembles areactionary one.[1][2] Fascism distinguishes itself by being the only ideology that focuses strongly on the revolution in its myth or, as Griffin puts it:
the mythical horizons of the fascist mentality do not extend beyond this first stage. It promises to replacegerontocracy, mediocrity and national weakness with youth, heroism and national greatness, to banish anarchy and decadence and bring order and health, to inaugurate an exciting new world in place of the played-out one that existed before, to put government in the hands of outstanding personalities instead of non-entities.
Through all of that, there would be one great leader who would battle the representatives of the old system withgrassroots support.[1][2] In the fascist utopia, onemass of people will supposedly appear who have only one goal: to create their new future.[1][2] Such a fascist movement would ideally haveinfinite faith in its mythicalhero who would stand for everything the movement believes in.[1][2] According to this utopian ideology, under the guidance of their leader the country would then rise like aphoenix from the ashes of corruption and decadence.[1][2]
National-anarchism has been argued to be asyncretic political ideology that was developed in the 1990s by formerThird Positionists to promote a "stateless palingenetic ultranationalism".[5]
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