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"There can be no question that violence and racism were essential traits of fascism. But for most Italians, Germans and other European fascists, the appeal was based not on racism, much less ethnic cleansing, but on the fascists’ ability to respond effectively to crises of capitalism when other political actors were not. Fascists insisted that states could and should control capitalism, that the state should and could promote social welfare, and that national communities needed to be cultivated. The fascist solution ultimately was, of course, worse than the problem."

It was not just hate, racism and violence. Fascism offered robust social welfare

Two young nation states in the biggest economic crisis of capitalism. Offering solutions to a system in crisis appeals to the conservatism in the majority and makes them complacent and even complicit in racism and violence. A threat is created and some-people-"are-better-than-others" find an echo in the shell of the nation-state. Atrocities are naturalised and accepted.

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