The nature and development of the concept of national synthesis in British fascist ideology 1920-1940
This thesis investigates the nature of fascist ideology in Britain during the period 1920-1940. It was undertaken in response to the lack of sufficient secondary literature on the ideas of the inter-war fascist movements in this country. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the historiography, constructs a conceptual ideal-type model of the fascist idea of âNational Synthesisâ, and presents detailed textual analysis of British fascist speeches, books and articles. The argument made in the thesis is that fascist ideology in both its British and wider European contexts was an anti-declinist and synthesizing creed, concerned above all with the integration, harmonisation and invigoration of the nation and race. Fascist ideology sought to synthesize the best elements of older or other ideologies and to create a new creed within a national context. British fascist ideologues, despite differences over the means to reach it, held the belief that the nation and society required complete unity, and that fascism was the only philosophy that could realise this vision. Their view of the world saw history as the story of the struggle for national unity and survival in the face of the rise and fall of nations. While
Woodbridge, Steven
History
The nature and development of the concept of national synthesis in British fascist ideology 1920-1940. This thesis investigates the nature of fascist ideology in Britain during the period 1920-1940. It was undertaken in response to the lack of sufficient secondary literature on the ideas of the inter-war fascist movements in this country. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the historiography, constructs a conceptual ideal-type model of the fascist idea of âNational Synthesisâ, and presents detailed textual analysis of British fascist speeches, books and articles. The argument made in the thesis is that fascist ideology in both its British and wider European contexts was an anti-declinist and synthesizing creed, concerned above all with the integration, harmonisation and invigoration of the nation and race. Fascist ideology sought to synthesize the best elements of older or other ideologies and to create a new creed within a national context. British fascist ideologues, despite differences over the means to reach it, held the belief that the nation and society required complete unity, and that fascism was the only philosophy that could realise this vision. Their view of the world saw history as the story of the struggle for national unity and survival in the face of the rise and fall of nations. While
nature development concept national synthesis british fascist ideology investigates nature fascist ideology britain period undertaken response lack_sufficient secondary_literature idea inter_war fascist movement country provide_comprehensive discussion historiography construct conceptual ideal_type model fascist idea national synthesis present_detail textual_analysis british fascist speech book article argument_make fascist ideology british wider european_context anti synthesize creed concerned integration nation race fascist ideology seek synthesize best element old ideology create_new creed within national_context british fascist despite_difference mean reach hold belief nation society require complete unity fascism philosophy could realise vision view world saw history story struggle national_unity survival face rise_fall nation