20+ Differences between Fascism and Socialism (Explained)

There are tons of people who believe in several concepts relating to tons of things. Two of the widely debated concepts are Fascism and Socialism. The former can be best described as an ideology or government concerned with attaining control over a country and its citizens.

In contrast, the latter can be best described as an ideology or government that is concerned with working for the welfare of people living in a society and letting the public on the production processes.

Comparison Between Fascism And Socialism

Parameter	Fascism	Socialism
Meaning	It refers to an ideology or government that can be best described as taking control over a country and its citizens to strengthen the concerned nation.	It refers to an ideology or a government that can best describe as taking care of society’s welfare and eradicating discrimination and poverty.
Origin	The traces of this ideology can be found as early as 1922 in Italy. It is believed that Benito Mussolini led the first-ever Fascist movement.	The traces of this ideology can be found as early as 1789, during the french revolution.
Focuses on	This ideology or government largely focuses on stretching the nation and making it prosperous using attaining control over the country and its citizens. It can be said that this ideology focuses on a country’s economic problems.	This ideology or government largely focuses on societal welfare and eradicating discrimination and poverty. It can be said that this ideology focuses on the social problems of a country.
Followers	People who believe in this ideology or government are termed fascists. These people are known for believing in god a lot.	People who believe in this ideology or government are termed Socialists. These people are known for being atheists.
Power	The hallmark feature of this ideology or government is that here, only one person is considered the head of the government, otherwise known as the dictator. All the power lies in his hands only.	The classic feature of this ideology or government is that the power does not lie in the hands of one individual. Instead, the power is decentralized to various levels.
Societal class	One of the major drawbacks of this ideology is that this ideology or government highlights or widens the already existing gap between various societal classes instead of narrowing it. Wealthy individuals are given unnecessary powers over the other sections of society.	Unlike Fascism, this ideology or government narrows the existing gap between various societal classes. Eradication of discrimination of any kind is the prime area of focus of this ideology or government.
Manufacturing and production	Wealthy individuals are certainly given many unnecessary powers under Fascism. For example, in most cases, rich individuals take care of the manufacturing and production processes of the concerned nation. This gives wealthy people superior treatment and increases the gap between the rich and other sections.	One of the major advantages of this ideology or government is that under this rule, any superior treatment or lifestyle is not given to any one section of the country.
God and state	People associated with this ideology or government are believed to support god and various religious activities. They also think that the state should not be independent of god.	It is believed that people associated with this ideology or government are atheists, meaning people who do not believe in god. They are high supporters of making the state independent of god/religion.
Rights of citizens	Another major drawback of this ideology is that it does not give citizens all of their fundamental rights. For example, in most cases, citizens do not have the right to freedom of speech.	This ideology or government does not believe in taking away any individual’s fundamental rights.
Democratic features	This ideology does not resemble the features of democracy, as this government is known for putting rich people above others and not providing every individual with every fundamental right.	This ideology resembles democracy very much as this government works for society’s welfare, eradicating discrimination and treating everyone equally.
Types	There are not any types of this type of ideology.	It can be broadly categorized into five main types: Democratic, Revolutionary, Libertarian, Market, and Green Socialism.
Type of ideology	Since this ideology focuses on attaining control over the country and its citizens, it is largely considered an authoritarian ideology or government.	This ideology is referred to as a political ideology that lets the public control or handle the concerned nation’s manufacturing or production processes.
Popular movements	Italian Fascism (1922-43), Nazism (Germany; 1933-45), Statism in Japan (1926-45), Australia (1931-40), United Kingdom (1932-40), United States of America (1933-41) are some of the most popular Fascist movements.	9/11 Truth Movement, Animal Rebellion, Anti-Fascism, Anti-Globalization movement, Black Lives Matter, Disability Rights Movement, etc., are some of the most popular Socialist movements.
Popular leaders	Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Oswald Mosely, Emilio De Bono, Vidkun Quisling, Giovanni Gentile.	Vladimir Lenin, Salvador Allende, Fidel Castro, Nicolas Maduro, Dilma Rouseff, J.V. Stalin, etc.

Major Differences Between Fascism And Socialism

What exactly is Fascism?

Fascism refers to an ideology or a form of government whose operation is completely different from a democracy. This ideology largely focuses on controlling a country rather than working for the social welfare of society.

This ideology also believes in various societal classes and chooses to clear lines between people. Letting rich people of a country control the production and manufacturing processes is one example. One of the other notable features of this ideology is that these people highly believe in god and religious activities.

Key Takeaways: Fascism

It can be best described as a form of government or an ideology that focuses on gathering full control over a country or society rather than working for society’s welfare. In such types of government, all types of democratic features are absent.

This ideology and form of government are believed to have originated after the first world war in Italy.

The head of such government types is typically called a dictator, and all the power lies in his hands only.

This type of government or ideology believes in the differences between various societal classes and works to highlight those gaps. To ensure this happens, all the manufacturing and production processes are handled by the rich people of a nation.

People involved in this concept do not think a country should be independent of god and religious practices.

Key Differences: Fascism

It can be best described as an ideology or a type of government whose prime focus is to allow the concerned government to control society fully.

This type of ideology gives the rich people of a country or society the power to control all the production and manufacturing processes of the country. Thus, it can be said that this form of government or ideology gives rich people an edge over the other sections of society.

In this form of government, everything is controlled by the head of the government, known as a dictator, and nothing is decentralized.

This government does not believe that the country or state should be independent of god. Instead, these people highly believe in religion, religious activities, and god.

People who believe in this form of ideology or government are referred to as Fascists.

What exactly is Socialism?

Socialism refers to an ideology or a form of government with democratic features and entirely focuses on the social welfare of the concerned society. In this form of government, eradicating societal classes is focused on instead of highlighting the societal gaps.

Since there is a presence of democratic features in this type of government, the powers do not lie in an individual’s hands but are decentralized to various levels. The government or the public collectively handles all the work relating to production and manufacturing.

Key Takeaways: Socialism

It can be described as an ideology or a form of government that focuses on working for social welfare and eradicating any discrimination still prevailing in society. In such a form of government, there is the presence of various democratic features.

The word Socialism is believed to have originated from the Latin word “social,” which means “combining or sharing .” The roots of this concept of Socialism can be found as early as 1789.

There is no particular head of the country or government with all the powers here. Instead, power is decentralized to many levels.

This type of government works to eradicate the system of social classes. And thus, all the manufacturing and production processes are handled by the government or the public.

Believers of such ideology highly believe that the country must be independent of god and religious practices.

Key Differences: Socialism

It can be best described as an ideology or a type of government whose main focus is to work for the welfare of society and remove any form of discrimination.

This type of ideology does not give any power to the wealthy section of society. Instead, all the production and manufacturing process is handled by the government itself or the public collectively.

In this form of government, all the powers of government are decentralized to various levels.

This government does not include god and religious activities when serving a country. Instead, this ideology believes a country should be independent of god.

People who believe in this form of ideology or government are referred to as Socialists.

The Contrast Between Fascism And Socialism

Meaning

Fascism refers to an ideology or government that works by attaining full control over a nation. This form of government does not try to work for social welfare or eradicate discrimination between different societal classes. Instead, it focuses on encouraging such discrimination.

Socialism is an ideology or government that focuses on society’s welfare and eradicates discrimination and poverty. This form of government does not try to control the citizens of the concerned country.

Origin

Fascism is believed to have originated in Italy, where the first ever Fascism movement occurred in 1922 and was led by Benito Mussolini.

Socialism – The traces of the origin of this ideology takes us back to 1789. This ideology is believed to have originated during the french revolution.

Type of ideology

Fascism – Since the primary focus of this type of ideology is to gather control over the country’s citizens, it is considered an authoritarian ideology or government.

Socialism – Since the only focus of this type of ideology is to work for the betterment of a society, it is considered a political ideology that allows the public to be in charge of production and manufacturing processes.

Focuses on

Fascism – This type of ideology focuses on attaining control over the country and its citizens. This ideology or government does so to make the nation strong and prosperous. In simple terms, it can be said that this ideology or government focuses more on the economic problems of the concerned nation.

Socialism – This type of ideology focuses on the welfare of society and eradicating discrimination and poverty from society. It can be said that this ideology or government largely focuses on the social problems prevailing in society.

Followers

Fascism – People who believe in and follow such ideology are known as Fascists. These individuals highly believe in god and do not think the state should be independent of god/religion.

Socialism – People who believe in and follow such ideology are known as Socialists. These individuals are considered atheists and believe the state must be independent of god/religion.

Works for

Fascism – The classic feature of this ideology or government is that it works to gather control over a nation. Working for the betterment of society is not the primary work of such a government.

Socialism – The hallmark feature of this ideology or government is that it works for the betterment of society. Attaining control over the citizens of a society is not the area of work of such a government.

Power

Fascism – One of the most important characteristics of this ideology that distinguishes it from Socialism is that in this ideology or government, all the power lies only in the hands of the head of the government or dictator. Any decentralization of power does not prevail in such a government.

Socialism – One of this ideology’s major advantages is that the power does not lie in the hands of any individual. Still, the power is decentralized to various levels.

Societal classes

Fascism – This type of ideology encourages the differences between various societal classes. For example, this form of government allows wealthy individuals to oversee all the production and manufacturing processes. Due to this reason, there is an unequal distribution of wealth in societies where Fascism prevails.

Socialism – The major advantage of this form of government or ideology is that it does not encourage the system of differences between various societal classes. Instead, they try to treat all the citizens as equals. Hence, there is an equal distribution of wealth among societies where Socialism prevails.

Manufacturing and production

Fascism – In such a form of government or ideology, all the work relating to the production and manufacturing processes is handled only by the wealthy individuals of the concerned nation.

Socialism – In such a form of government or ideology, the government or the public collectively handles all the work relating to production and manufacturing processes.

God and state

Fascism – The belief that the state and god are interdependent on each other is highly encouraged by this ideology or government. People following this ideology or people involved with such ideology believe in god, religion, and various religious practices.

Socialism – What this ideology believes is completely different from what Fascism believes. This ideology believes that the state or god must be independent of each other. Therefore, people following this ideology or those involved do not believe in god and are considered atheists.

Democratic features

Fascism – This ideology does not have any types of democratic features, considering that this ideology is considered authoritarian.

Socialism – This ideology resembles democracy and, thus, has many democratic features. For example, all citizens have their fundamental rights, and discrimination in the form of societal classes is highly restricted here.

Rights of citizens

Fascism – People living under this government are not entitled to all their fundamental rights. Important rights such as freedom of speech are not permitted to be used by this government. This is largely because this government’s main focus is to attain control, which can not happen if citizens have all their rights.

Socialism – This form of government allows citizens to have all their fundamental rights.

Types

Fascism – There are not any types of this ideology.

Socialism can be broadly categorized into five main types: Democratic, Revolutionary, Libertarian, Market, and Green Socialism.

Types of Socialism

Democratic Socialism: This form of ideology or government works on the principles of democracy and Socialism. It can be considered an addition to democracy and Socialism.

Revolutionary Socialism: This form of Socialism represents why and how revolutions are important to society.

Libertarian Socialism: In Socialism, the government or the public sector owns the production processes. But in Libertarian Socialism, nothing is owned by anyone. It does not believe in any form of authority imposed on people.

Market Socialism: Socialism means owning and controlling a nation’s production and manufacturing processes by the public or government. In this form of Socialism, everything is owned by the government or the public sector, but the market only influences it.

Green Socialism: This form of Socialism is concerned with mixing climate change with Socialism.

Popular movements

Fascism – The most popular movements that took place in this world are Italian Fascism (1922-43), Nazism (Germany; 1933-45), Statism in Japan (1926-45), Australia (1931-40), United Kingdom (1932-40), United States of America (1933-41).

Socialism – The most popular movements that resulted from Socialism are the 9/11 Truth Movement, Animal Rebellion, Anti-Fascism, Anti-Globalization movement, Black Lives Matter, Disability Rights Movement, etc.

Popular leaders

Fascism – Some of the most popular Fascist leaders are Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Oswald Mosely, Emilio De Bono, Vidkun Quisling, Giovanni Gentile, etc.

Socialism – Some of the most popular Socialist leaders are Vladimir Lenin, Salvador Allende, Fidel Castro, Nicolas Maduro, Dilma Rousseff, J.V. Stalin, etc.

Conclusion

Two of the most confusing ideologies are Fascism and Socialism. The former is believed to have originated in Italy in 1922, while the latter is believed to have originated during the french revolution in 1789.

The major difference between Fascism and Socialism is that the former is concerned with controlling a country and its citizens. In contrast, the latter is concerned with working for the welfare of people in a society.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What was the first Fascist movement?

The Italian Fascist movement that happened during the time frame of 1922-43 is believed to be the first ever Fascist movement.

Q2. What is similar to democracy: Socialism or Fascism?

It is Socialism that is considered similar to democracy. This ideology focuses on society’s welfare and eradicating discrimination and poverty instead of controlling the country.

Q3. When did Fascism originate?

The traces of this ideology can be found as early as 1789. However, it is believed to have originated during the french revolution.

Q4. Who are some of the most popular Fascist leaders?

Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Oswald Mosely, Emilio De Bono, and Vidkun Quisling are some of the most popular Fascist leaders.

Q5. Who are some of the most popular Socialist leaders?

Vladimir Lenin, Salvador Allende, Fidel Castro, Nicolas Maduro, and J.V. Stalin are some of the most popular Socialist leaders.

Q6. What are the major differences between Fascism and Socialism?

The major difference between Fascism and Socialism is that the former is more like a dictatorship, while the latter is more like a democracy.