Dinesh D'Souza Reveals the Forgotten Philosopher of Fascism and Why Historians Erased Him from History
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Dinesh D'Souza Reveals the Forgotten Philosopher of Fascism and Why Historians Erased Him from History
Dinesh D'Souza exposes Giovanni Gentile, the erased philosopher of fascism whose ideas reveal uncomfortable truths about modern political ideology. For decades, the left has labeled conservatives as fascists, but D'Souza argues this accusation ignores fascism's actual roots in socialism and state-controlled collectivism. By examining Gentile's philosophy and its implementation by Benito Mussolini, D'Souza demonstrates that fascism's core principles, subordinating individual liberty to centralized state power, align more closely with contemporary progressive policies than conservative values. This examination challenges the conventional narrative about fascism's place on the political spectrum and reveals why one of history's most influential philosophers remains deliberately forgotten.
For decades, the political left has wielded "fascist" as a favored accusation against those on the right. Every Republican president since the 1970s, and virtually every Republican, has faced this label. The charge rests on a foundational assumption: that fascism is a phenomenon of the political right. Both the left and some self-styled white supremacists and neo-Nazis embrace this categorization. But is this characterization accurate?
To answer this question requires examining fascism's underlying ideology and origins. These are not simple questions to answer. Everyone knows Adam Smith as the philosopher of capitalism. Karl Marx stands as the philosopher of Marxism. But who is the philosopher of fascism? The answer remains unknown to most people, not because he doesn't exist, but because historians—most of whom are on the political left—had to erase him from history to avoid confronting fascism's actual beliefs.
Meet Giovanni Gentile
Giovanni Gentile, born in 1875, was one of the world's most influential philosophers in the first half of the twentieth century. Yet his name has been systematically removed from historical discourse. Gentile articulated a vision of democracy that stood in stark opposition to liberal democracy. He believed there were two "diametrically opposed" types of democracy.
The first is liberal democracy, exemplified by the United States, which Gentile dismissed as individualistic—too centered on liberty and personal rights—and therefore selfish. The second, which Gentile championed as "true democracy," is one in which individuals willingly subordinate themselves to the state.
The Socialist Foundation of Fascism
Like his philosophical mentor, Karl Marx, Gentile wanted to create a community that resembles the family, a community where everyone is "all in this together." The attraction of this idea is evident in its enduring presence in political rhetoric. At the 1984 Democratic Party convention, New York Governor Mario Cuomo likened America to an extended family where, through the government, people all take care of each other. Three decades later, the 2012 Democratic Party convention adopted the slogan, "The government is the only thing we all belong to." They might as well have been quoting Gentile directly.
Gentile was a man of the left, a committed socialist. For Gentile, fascism represents a form of socialism—indeed, its most workable form. While Marxist socialism mobilizes people on the basis of class, fascism mobilizes people by appealing to their national identity as well as their class. Fascists are socialists with a national identity. The German Fascists of the 1930s were called Nazis—a contraction of the term "national socialist."
The Total State
For Gentile, all private action should be oriented to serve society. There is no distinction between the private interest and the public interest. Correctly understood, the two are identical. The administrative arm of society is the state itself. Consequently, to submit to society is to submit to the state—not just in economic matters, but in all matters. Since everything is political, the state gets to tell everyone how to think and what to do.
From Philosophy to Practice: Mussolini's Implementation
It was Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943, who transformed Gentile's words into action. In his Dottrina del Fascismo, one of the doctrinal statements of early fascism, Mussolini wrote, "All is in the state and nothing human exists or has value outside the state." He was merely paraphrasing Gentile's philosophy.
The Modern Parallel
The Italian philosopher is now lost in obscurity, but his philosophy could not be more relevant because it closely parallels that of the modern left. Gentile's work speaks directly to progressives who champion the centralized state. In America, the left has expanded state control over the private sector extensively, from healthcare to banking, from education to energy. This state-directed capitalism is precisely what German and Italian fascists implemented in the 1930s.
Why the Left Cannot Acknowledge Gentile
Leftists cannot acknowledge their man, Gentile, because doing so would undermine their attempt to bind conservatism to fascism. Conservatism advocates for small government so that individual liberty can flourish. The left, like Gentile, wants the opposite: to place the resources of the individual and industry in the service of a centralized state. To acknowledge Gentile is to acknowledge that fascism bears a deep kinship to the ideology of the modern left.
The left will keep Gentile where they have him: dead, buried, and forgotten. But we should remember, or the ghost of fascism will continue to haunt us.
Video Transcript
“He’s a fascist!”
For decades, this has been a favorite smear
of the left, aimed at those on the right.
Every Republican president—for that matter,
virtually every Republican—since the 1970s
has been called a fascist; now, more than
ever.
This label is based on the idea that fascism
is a phenomenon of the political right.
The left says it is, and some self-styled
white supremacists and neo-Nazis
embrace the label.
But are they correct?
To answer this question, we have to ask what
fascism really means:
What is its underlying ideology?
Where does it even come from?
These are not easy questions to answer.
We know the name of the philosopher of capitalism:
Adam Smith.
We know the name of the philosopher of Marxism:
Karl Marx.
But who’s the philosopher of fascism?
Yes—exactly. You don’t know.
Don’t feel bad. Almost no one knows.
This is not because he doesn’t exist, but
because historians, most of whom are on the
political left, had to erase him from history
in order to avoid confronting fascism’s actual beliefs.
So, let me introduce him to you.
His name is Giovanni Gentile.
Born in 1875, he was one of the world’s
most influential philosophers in the first
half of the twentieth century.
Gentile believed that there were two “diametrically
opposed” types of democracy.
One is liberal democracy, such as that of
the United States, which Gentile dismisses
as individualistic—too centered on liberty
and personal rights—and therefore selfish.
The other, the one Gentile recommends, is
“true democracy,” in which individuals
willingly subordinate themselves to the state.
Like his philosophical mentor, Karl Marx,
Gentile wanted to create a community that
resembles the family, a community where we
are “all in this together.”
It’s easy to see the attraction of this
idea.
Indeed, it remains a common rhetorical theme
of the left.
For example, at the 1984 convention of the
Democratic Party, the governor of New York,
Mario Cuomo, likened America to an extended
family where, through the government,
people all take care of each other.
Nothing’s changed.
Thirty years later, a slogan of the 2012 Democratic
Party convention was, “The government is
the only thing we all belong to.”
They might as well have been quoting Gentile.
Now, remember, Gentile was a man of the left.
He was a committed socialist.
For Gentile, fascism is a form of socialism—indeed,
its most workable form.
While the socialism of Marx mobilizes people
on the basis of class, fascism mobilizes people
by appealing to their national identity as
well as their class.
Fascists are socialists with a national identity.
German Fascists in the 1930s were called Nazis—basically a contraction of the term “national socialist.”
For Gentile, all private action should be
oriented to serve society; there is no distinction
between the private interest and the public
interest.
Correctly understood, the two are identical.
And who is the administrative arm of the society?
It’s none other than the state.
Consequently, to submit to society is to submit
to the state—not just in economic matters,
but in all matters.
Since everything is political, the state gets
to tell everyone how to think and what to do.
It was another Italian, Benito Mussolini,
the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943,
who turned Gentile’s words into action.
In his Dottrina del Fascismo, one of the doctrinal
statements of early fascism, Mussolini wrote,
“All is in the state and nothing human exists
or has value outside the state.”
He was merely paraphrasing Gentile.
The Italian philosopher is now lost in obscurity,
but his philosophy could not be more relevant
because it closely parallels that of the modern
left.
Gentile’s work speaks directly to progressives
who champion the centralized state.
Here in America, the left has vastly expanded
state control over the private sector,
from healthcare to banking; from education to energy.
This state-directed capitalism is precisely
what German and Italian fascists implemented
in the 1930s.
Leftists can’t acknowledge their man, Gentile,
because that would undermine their attempt
to bind conservatism to fascism.
Conservatism wants small government so that
individual liberty can flourish.
The left, like Gentile, wants the opposite:
to place the resources of the individual and
industry in the service of a centralized state.
To acknowledge Gentile is to acknowledge that
fascism bears a deep kinship
to the ideology of today’s left.
So, they will keep Gentile where they’ve
got him: dead, buried, and forgotten.
But we should remember, or the ghost of fascism
will continue to haunt us.
