Fascist Mythologies: The History and Politics of Unreason in Borges, Freud, and Schmitt

Fascism imbued its ideas of the leader, nation, power, and violence with mythic imagery and the fantasy of transcending history, leading to a violently redeemed future. Federico Finchelstein's book explores fascism as a form of political mythmaking, drawing on thinkers such as Jorge Luis Borges, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Schmitt to analyze the mythical and unconscious dimensions of fascist politics. He contrasts their approaches to the logic of unreason and shows the centrality of this opposition to understanding the ideology of fascism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Fascism, for the fascists, was a belief system that merged myth with reality, creating a distorted perception of the world. Their notions of the leader, the nation, power, and violence were deeply rooted in mythical imagery and the fantasy of transcending history. The fascists believed that a mythologized primordial past could inspire a heroic overthrow of the debased present, leading to a violently redeemed future.

What sets fascist mythology apart is its ability to shape and influence the ideologies and actions of its followers. It taps into the unconscious desires and fears of people, providing a sense of purpose and identity. By mythologizing the past, the fascists were able to justify their present actions and beliefs, making them seem rational and justified.

This aspect of fascism helps to explain its perils in the past and present. By creating a false sense of reality, fascism was able to manipulate people and societies to achieve its goals. It has been used to justify acts of violence, discrimination, and oppression, leading to the suffering of countless individuals and communities.

In his book, Federico Finchelstein explores the relationship between fascist mythology and the ideologies of a range of fascist intellectuals, including Jorge Luis Borges, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Schmitt. Finchelstein argues that these thinkers emphasized the mythical and unconscious dimensions of fascist politics, and that their ideas of the self, violence, and the sacred played a central role in fascist ideology.

Finchelstein also examines the ways in which fascist intellectuals used myth to justify their political theology. He analyzes the work of Schmitt, in particular, who saw the state as a sacred entity that had the responsibility to protect the nation from external threats. Finchelstein argues that Schmitts political theology was deeply rooted in myth, and that it provided a framework for the justification of fascist violence.

Through his analysis, Finchelstein challenges the dichotomy between myth and reason and shows the centrality of this opposition to understanding the ideology of fascism. He argues that fascism cannot be understood solely through rational analysis, but that it requires a deeper understanding of the unconscious desires and fears that drive it.

This book is a timely and important contribution to the study of fascism and the dangers of myth in modern politics. It provides a critical analysis of the ways in which fascist mythology shaped and influenced the ideologies and actions of its followers, and it offers insights into the ways in which we can prevent the resurgence of fascism in the future.

Weight: 208g
Dimension: 126 x 197 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231183215