What is it about?
This article looks at how Southern writers dreamed of a future which rejected equality and promoted a collectivist alternative. The fascist ideas of Southern writers are not compared to 20th century fascist regimes -such as Nazi Germany - but rather, the so-called "Conservative Revolution" of 19th century German thinkers.
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Why is it important?
The "Unite the Right" rally which took placed in Charlottesville 2017 showed American neo-nazis flying the flag of Nazi Germany and the Confederate States of America together. While it may appear this partnership was created from the Second World War, I argue this union begins in the Antebellum period.
Perspectives
I had the idea to write this article from my experience teaching at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde Texas. About every semester I had a student or two walk out when I talked about slavery in the South. I was determined to find primary sources of Southerners to demonstrate, in their own words, their racist beliefs. When I read George Fitzhugh's books, I realized I had read this before. These ideas were too familiar. This was odd considering I had not studied the South before. I soon realized that I came across these ideas in college; in the works of those who influenced the views of the Nazis - Germany's 19th century conservative revolutionaries.
Stefan Reyes
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Antebellum Palingenetic Ultranationalism: The Case for including the United States in Comparative Fascist Studies, Fascism, December 2019, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/22116257-00802005.
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