Question for DU historians:

[mitchum]

Have fascists ever given up power peacefully?

Just curious

thanks,
mitchum

[rzemanfl]

1. Yes, it was right after the big pigs flying away pork famine.

On edit, I have a Master's Degree in history.

[Ezlivin]

2. We will all find out after the November elections

But I suspect that our facists will use whatever means possible to retain their hold on power.

After all, they've already tried using anthrax on those who oppose them....

[Rex]

3. Not possible

nt

[ixion]

4. peace is anathema to fascism

it cannot exist in a peaceful environment, becuase it uses fear and ignorance as motivators.

[Cleita]

5. Historically, tyrants or dictators if you will, seem to come

to a bad end. Very few seem to die peacefully in their beds. If they aren't assassinated, they often commit suicide before they are brought on trial. Napoleon died in exile. Stalin died in his bed, but there were rumors he was poisoned. Mussolini was killed. Hitler killed himself after the allies closed in on him. We will have to wait and see what happens to Saddam and Pinnochet of Chile. Maybe Bush will get away with it and die in his bed, but somehow I don't think so. He's alienated too many people to the point of raging hatred.

[Swamp Rat]

6. and Caligula Junior

[mitchum]

10. Unfair to Caligula, who actually preyed upon the upper classes...

he didn't put plebeian wives to work as whores in the Senate, did he?
Caligula also confiscated the estates of the wealthy.
That kind of stuff puts him in the running for my personal favorite of the twelve Caesars :)

[Swamp Rat]

13. I do not share your fondness of the messianic, sadistic Caligula

:D

"Caligula also confiscated the estates of the wealthy." - for himself. His lifestyle did not come cheaply, and taxes were not enough.

I much prefer our 'estate tax' than his methods.

[mitchum]

15. Well, I wouldn't want to have dinner with him...

or invite him to my wedding...
:)

[AntiFascist]

12. Which is why it is important to keep up the pressure on them.....

just saying.... they're afraid of something.

[leveymg]

7. Spain after Franco's death. Chile, Argentina, Brazil

Each of those countries went through a democratic renaissance. None have gone back.

Now, it's our turn.

[Cleita]

8. Don't forget West Germany after WWII and East Germany

after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

[leveymg]

11. Germany was far from bloodless, and the Soviet bloc wasn't fascist

Just trying to address the question according to the criteria stated.:hi:

[Cleita]

16. No, Germany wasn't but it did become a democracy that

I envy today and the Soviet Bloc was totalitarian or two ends of the spectrum that seemed to meet up in the middle and ended up being the same.

[Warpy]

9. Only after they've been forced out

Pinochet didn't start a war. He just got old and doddering and had to hold an election in order to retire.

Same thing with the military junta in Argentina. They got old.

[librechik]

14. Franco died peacefully in bed

and the monarchy (eventually) took over in Spain without bloodshed.

[mitchum]

17. Should Americans wait that long?

[johnaries]

18. BREAKING NEWS! Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!

Sorry, couldn't resist. For all the fans of the original SNL and Chevy Chase.

[librechik]

19. I wondered if anybody would do that

heh