The association of fascism with the political Right is part of the so-called called "political spectrum," which is a construct of European politics and has never been a very good fit for American politics, because it doesn't leave a clear place for libertarianism or limited government. It makes more sense in Europe, where it's mostly assumed that government will be big and powerful. Even over here, the more libertarian parties don't fit side very well.
Deez had a great post breaking this down awhile back.
Far right wing is less centralized control over property/the means of production. Far left wing is complete state control over the property/the means of production. People dismiss Karl Marx's writing because his solutions to economics and government were absolutely terrible and a complete disaster. However, his analysis of class struggle, society, economics, government were actually spot on. Like I said, his recommendations were just absolutely the worst. In fairness to him, he envisioned a democratic communist state, but in practice that never is the case. In practice, most of his solutions do not work with human nature. Anyway, I view the marxist focus on control of the means of production as the best way to analyze what are right and left wing governments.
Further to Mr. Deez' point, if you put Communism all the way to the Left I'd put Fascism (just a term) all the way to the right. I would define that kind of fascism as anoligarchy ortotal corporate control of thegovernment.
Fascism is not total corporate control of the government. I am honestly not sure what kind of government that would be. Maybe what we have in the US today?
In Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Franco's Spain and Saddam's Iraq, the ruling parties, the military and the strongmen were calling the shots, not the corporations. National socialism perfectly describes fascism as it is an extremely nationalistic socialism. National socialism is a form totalitarian, militaristic socialism with some private property rights. The means of production are partially controlled by the government. The corporations existed and had some private property rights, but the government could come in and direct their production. See the nazi party/hitler directing manufacturing and automobiles. The government could also confiscate your property pretty easily if you were deemed undesirable or a traitor. Fascism also has an all powerful, centralized government. Nazi Germany, for example, did away with the German federal states and turned them into centrally managed districts. Fascism, like communism, also claims to be pro workers/pro worker rights. The reason fascists and communists hate each other so much is that they both see each other as the competition to be the "true banner" of socialism and the "true saviors of the working class." Both hate what they consider the decadence of western capitalism. I think we can all agree that democratic socialism like in Europe today is the best form socialism and produces the greatest worker rights IF you are going to choose a form of socialism for your government.
Deez is correct for Europe, where everything is to the left, there is only big government/socialism. Communism is to the left and fascism is, in a way, right wing socialism
for Europe.
I would argue our current US government is ultimately (in general) centrist or a far right wing democratic socialism.
Far right wing in general would be anarchy.
Moving to the left in the right wing spectrum from anarchy would be the feudal system whether monarchy or feudalist republic (the richest man who owns all the land sets the rules aka the King. His vassals, the next richest people, each wield significant power over their domains).
Further left would be a libertarian, federalist society (the US 1776-1865 and the Confederate States of America).
Then further left would be the US 1865-1930s (the 14th amendment centralized power and limited states' rights (not talking about slavery, but actual sovereignty of the states)) until you get back to the center with the US 1930s to present.
I personally want something to the right of what we have today, but not quite as right as the US 1865-1930s. I think in some areas we could use less regulation and more local control/personal freedom. In other areas, the realities of modern economies demand some central control like having a central bank (the Fed) or anti-trust law.
Social issues are generally irrelevant as any form of government can take any stance on social issues. For example, both the US prior to 1865 and the Soviet Union outlawed homosexual relations. Racism is irrelevant in left/right as any form of government could be racist and nearly all, if not all, forms of governments in history have had at least some racist policies. Slavery is also neither left nor right. If they are privately owned slaves (most slavery in history), then it would be right wing slavery as it would be a private property right. If they are publicly owned slaves (soviet gulags, nazi work camps, china today aka the people that make our cheap products and no one minds because they are chinese and out of sight) that would be left wing slavery.
Strangely enough, I would argue that China has moved right from communism to fascism. It is now a national socialist state with some private property rights and corporations. It also uses public slave labor, a trait similar to many fascist states.
Russia is left of center, semi-fascist but still semi-democratic. Russia might be a new form of government. Is there such a thing as a mafia/criminal run state? Maybe it should be called "loose, informal fascism"?
Anyway, that's how I would break it down. Feel free to disagree and comment.
