What is Fascism? (part eleven)

In his book "The Faces of Contemporary Russian Nationalism" (Princeton University Press, 1984) Hoover Institute fellow, John B. Dunlop, argues that contemporary Russian National Bolshevism (of the Limonov / Dugin variety) is actually a variety of fascism. Here then are his "eight distinguishing marks of National Bolshevism" presented not as a definition of National Bolshevism, but rather as a check-list of how these particular strains of National Bolshevism have perhaps veered off into fascism.

To summarize, the distinguishing marks of the National Bolshevik variant of contemporary Russian nationalism may be described as:

1. a neo-pagan, militaristic cult of strength and invincibility of the Russian people;
2. a militant and aggressive stance toward Russia's perceived internal an external enemies;
3. a strong anti-Western orientation, at times linked to a belief in a "Jewish-Masonic conspiracy";
4. an awareness of the country's serious demographic and social problems but a lack of angst concerning the future, a "can do mentality;
5. a tendency to advocate racial purity and to disapprove of marriages between Russians and representatives of other nationalities
6. adherence to a "single stream" view of Russian history
7. a non-religious but not anti-religious posture; and
8. a cult of discipline and of heroic vitalism.