Finkelstein did not account for the fact that fascists always manufacture an opposition to justify itself regardless of whether there is an organized left domestically. Usually this means targeting a minority, or a perceived foreign threat.
I think Finkelstein’s thing isn’t that fascists need a real opposition to justify themselves, but that the militancy of fascism as a historical trend stems from defending capitalism from militant socialists/unionists/etc., and therefore is completely senseless for the ruling class to allow if it’s not actually fighting something. Obviously there are things like military dictatorships that have existed when the left was non-existent or just a bunch of libs.
It does not matter if there is an organized opposition. The only thing that matters is that Capitalism (in the case of the US, total world domination) is suffering set-backs. The cause of these set-backs does not matter. Even if they are completely self-inflicted, a price must be paid in blood.
Finkelstein did not account for the fact that fascists always manufacture an opposition to justify itself regardless of whether there is an organized left domestically. Usually this means targeting a minority, or a perceived foreign threat.
I think Finkelstein’s thing isn’t that fascists need a real opposition to justify themselves, but that the militancy of fascism as a historical trend stems from defending capitalism from militant socialists/unionists/etc., and therefore is completely senseless for the ruling class to allow if it’s not actually fighting something. Obviously there are things like military dictatorships that have existed when the left was non-existent or just a bunch of libs.
It does not matter if there is an organized opposition. The only thing that matters is that Capitalism (in the case of the US, total world domination) is suffering set-backs. The cause of these set-backs does not matter. Even if they are completely self-inflicted, a price must be paid in blood.