1936 Why They Join Fascists.pdf

Why They Join
the Fascists
Lionel Birch
1936 London: People's Press
54p.

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WHY THEY JOIN THE
FASCISTS
bJ
LIONEL BIRCH
With an Introduction
'"
LT,·COL. J. V. DELAHAYE, o.s.o., M.e.
PEOPLE'S PRE S
(LOl'lDON)
S8 BLOOM SBURY STREET, W.C.I
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PR EFACE
BY
J. V. DELAHAYE
A PSYCUOLOOLn' confronted in hit consulting room by a neurouc
knows that if discuuion is to produce any po manen! dTccu he
must be able to say of hiJ palien!: " In such circurrulnnces and with
5uch a background I also could have acted in just ,uch a manner."
In (act, hov.'evcr diffICUlt it rru\y be (0 some, a measure of idcntifi·
cation wilh the F:ucin iJ ncc:cssary if we arc to be a.ble to influence
those actual humnn beings who constitute the n«esl3l")' oockground
of sup pori for the Fasc;st movement.
To treat F:ucism seriously involves at It:uI three things.
We mUlit be clearly aware of its effects. We must study as pre>
(oundly as we can its emotional roots. And, since n:uionallifc is in
a const.'lnt state of flux, and no one elm jWit stand nill, we mwt be
able to o(fa a morc desirable outlet for these emotions.
A c::olUiderable number of pamphlets and books describing the
tIT'ccts of F:uci!m have already been produced. These effects may
be briefly stated :u follo\\'5:
Every development which enlightened men in pre\-1OW times
have found worth while is abruptly and even savngely rcversed .
For-to give a single example such men \,'Ould rua\"C: considered
human existence to be pointless if every person bolo were to ba\-"e
sameneu forcibly imposed upon them from birth. To them progress
me:l.nt the development of such political economic and cultural
conditiollJ as 'would bring out the unique capa.cities with which
every indh'idunl is inC\·itl1bly endowed.
The effects of Fascism, at lea51 to those who still adhere 10 the
old values, arc: catastrophic enough. Yet, since Fascism grows and
Ilumben mnny adherents, it is clear that either these: effects are
not realised, or else m:ll then:: must be compensatory advantages,
which seem re.1.1 and " 'OM while at leut to those: who actively
support or passively acquiesce,
It is lhiJ aspect that deserves more serious study than 3t present
has been given to it. Like the Fascists thcmsch'cs, who refuse to
Iludy lhe reo ... l socia l forces and therd'ore concentrate public
emotions upon an easily identifiable scapegoat, many opponents of
Fascism attempt explanations that are far too stmplc to be adequate.

Copies of this pamphlet may be obtained (rom
The People's Press. 58 Bloomsbury Slrttt.
London. W.c./. (TrI. Museum J811)
Single Copies
Per Dozen
Price
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